My Symphony Of Life

by Ana

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On this episode my co-host is my husband T.Mic! He’s heard throughout our other shows and this is his third time joining me on My Symphony Of Life. Let’s welcome him to the show! We’re going to discuss an article that we read on Positive family relationships linked to healthy marriages at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/29041. This article caught our attention and on this episode we talk about our past, relationships with our parents and see how our past experience has prepared us for our relationship and our marriage. It’s a wonderful article that I do encourage you to read it. Based on my experience in the past, it is truly in my own symphony of life that we do at times carry what we’ve learned from our parent’s relationships to the current relationship. With that being said, relationships always have room for improvement to not only better ourselves as individuals but most importantly better our relationships. T.Mic and I will also continue this topic on the next show. T.Mic and I discuss our home remodeling that we have going on. We’re going to share what we’re doing to our house and please forgive us for the past pictures (floral wallpaper with floral carpet)…lol! =) We’re not only remodeling our house, we’re remodeling our lives both personal and in business. We thank you for being part of our journey. We’d like to hear your response to the article and you can email us at feedback [at] audiosmaximus [dot] com.
Please join me in welcoming our featured guest Shannon Cunningham LeBlanc. She’s a Photographer , Travel Consultant http://www.paradisevacationescapes.com , Leader and successful female Entrepreneur. Let’s welcome her to the show! I’m so excited that I had the opportunity to sit and chat with Shannon at my studio! Shannon came on the show to share with all of us about the Woman’s Global Network and the chapter she started here in Baton Rouge, LA. It’s such an exciting time for all of us and I do hope that you continue your growth both in your personal life and in your business (if you have one).

Apr 16

My Symphony Of Life – Episode 34 – Interview With Renae Christine Of Rich Mom Business

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by Ana

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I’m Ana the host of My Symphony Of Life…. Welcome back! We’ve got a lot to catch up since our last post. First I’d like to start by saying Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to download, listen to our shows as well as voting for this show on iTunes. You are the reason why we do this! You are an integral part of our community and network. T.Mic and I were both sick for 3 weeks. We’re both doing a lot better! With the cold/congestion that we both had our voices were not up to par and the cold/congestion that had made us very tired so we rested ate light food and we’re both doing great!

You see during this time we’ve been sick we’ve come to the realization for this particular show from the new season six and the break down of the different topics each week that certain topics bring more interest to you than other topics.

We’d like to know if you’d like to hear more about crafting or diy projects. Know that based on the breakdown of the craft shows you do love this topic more than another topic. You see in my own symphony of life from when my nephews were at the age of two years old I’d come down to Louisiana to visit them during the summer. We’d do all types of craft projects, we’d sing songs, and go to the park. Throughout crafting my own symphony of life throughout my pre teen, teen, adulthood I’ve always incorporated crafts in my life whether it would be with my nephews, my bible study class in which I’d share a craft project with the bible study, crafting with kids I’ve babysat with to my own unique style of crafting techniques that I’ve learned along the way.

It’s in crafting my own symphony of life that crafting has brought me joy, it has brought me closer to my family members, friends, it has brought me closer to kids to teach at their levels and it has brought me great joy to continue to teach and reach people at this level. So, with that being said crafting and DIY projects will be every other week. I feel I reach people on different levels and bring out their inner creativity in perhaps they didn’t know it was there all this time and perhaps they did know it was there and need that extra creative tug. That is why I am here! That is why I am here to revamp my symphony of life. That is why I am able to reach all of you. It’s a new creative vision, it’s a new creative noble purpose to live it will passion in all that I do…… most importantly for you to live it with passion for you to be the conductor you were meant to be in your creative life.

I will also continue featuring guests such Entrepreneurs, Author’s, Life Coaches, Blogger’s, and Podcaster’s as well as empowering topics for your life in order for you as a person to grow. My featured guests that I have do share their own symphony of life on both personal and business levels that is great for you to grow as well on both personal and business levels (for those who do have businesses). I’m learning along with you by talking to them and having that interaction with them. This is why I’m able to reach you. It’s a new aspiration in life to better your self with knowledge, empowering yourself to better yourself as a person and business owner. It’s a mission to provide enrichment and education so that you can be the person you can be. Make the conscious effort starting today to be present for life’s moments. Making a decision that I’m going to make that step, I’m going to make a active choice to be who I know I can be. You are talented, its time to showcase them and it’s time for you to live this moment we have now with at true noble purpose today. If you’re unsure of your purpose, it’s my goal to help you with that based on our enrichment, empowering and education topics.

Now to our featured guest! My featured guest is Renae Christine of Rich Mom Business! She’s the founder and author of www.richmombusiness.com. She has a wonderful vlog at youtube.com/renaechristine. She’s worked out a formula to create successful business and share’s her passion while helping others. Join me in welcoming Renae Christine to My Symphony Of Life!

Speaking of her vlog, check out a couple below:

Mar 05

My Symphony Of Life – Episode# 33 – Craft Time With Kathy Penny And Ana

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by Ana

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Hello I’m Ana the host of My Symphony Of Life. Welcome back to another show! I’d like to take the time to thank you for listening to my symphony of life and allowing me to be part of your journey. This show is all about me helping people like you conduct your own personal growth by providing enrichment, empowering and educational topics in which you can grow in order for you to create your hearts desire and live with passion inside out. All of our topics do just that! Do you have a topic, that you would like to hear more of, would you like me to share more of your favorite hobbies, do you know someone that I should talk to on this show? If you have a topic, show idea or a guest I should talk to, please provide the feedback by emailing me at feedback [at] audiosmaximus [dot] com. I do look forward to reading your comments as well as responding to them as well. !

On this episode we’re going to share 2 crafts for you. The first one is a frugal craft Jar Craft To De clutter & Organize Kitchen Drawers by Kathy Penney over at Sparkles and a Stove. Her website is www.sparklesandastove.com. She was first featured on episode 29 and I do encourage everyone to go back and listen to that show at www.audiosmaximus.com

Kathy Penney – One of my resolutions this year is to declutter my home and get organized. The first room I am starting with is my kitchen because we use it every day. When my husband and I bought our house I thought how huge my kitchen was with all the cabinets and drawers (and it was compared to a little one bedroom apartment!) but 7 years and 2 kids later that kitchen seems a lot smaller! The drawers are stuffed full of little gadgets, utensils, and odds and ends and it made finding what I was looking for seem like a prize in a scavenger hunt. I wanted an inexpensive storage solution to declutter and organize my kitchen drawers and came up with this easy inexpensive jar craft!
(If you need help staying on track with your own resolutions check out this free New Year’s resolution printable.)

To Get Your Craft On You Will Need:

* Ball, Mason, or Empty Pasta or Jelly Jars (as many as you need to hold the items from your drawers)
Spray Paint (I used 2 colors for a variety and make sure the paint works on glass.) If you do not want to use spray paint you can use an all surface paint in a can with a brush or a glass paint such as the one by Coloration. All surface paints will adhere to the glass but can scratch so work best on decorative items such as the canisters.
* Ribbon (Again I used 2 to coordinate with the colors of the jars.)
* Embellishments (can be found at any craft store)
* Decals, Stickers, or Paint Pen to put sentiment (Optional)

To Get Your Craft On:

First I spray painted the jars in a bright blue and green to match my kitchen colors. It took about three coats for the jars to no longer be transparent. A reader suggested using a primer so that may reduce the number of coats needed.

Once the jars were dry I measured the jar with the ribbon, cut it, and tied a ribbon around the neck of each jar. I used a green gingham to accent the blue jars and a green print with pinks, blues, and browns on the green jars.

Next I hot glued these blue and green flowers from The Paper Studio to dress them up even more. I put the big flowers on the large jars at the base and the smaller flowers on the side of the small jars. There are flowers, jewels, or you could even do polka dots using a small sponge. There are infinite possibilities to personalize the jars.

Finally I used my silhouette to cut out white vinyl letters saying “Choose To Be Happy”. I love the idea that for the most part our happiness is our own choice. I also thought the upbeat saying went well with the bright happy colors. If you want to do a message but don’t have a Silhouette, you can do stick on letters or even a paint pen.

I cleaned out two drawers of all of these items that there was no room for but I didn’t want to part with. I think the drawers actually heaved a sigh of relief like when you take off a pair of pants that are too tight! I did 2 large jars for wooden spoons, brushes, and whisks and then 2 smaller ones for my kids’ utensils, and smaller items like meat thermometer and measuring spoons. It made a huge difference in being able to find things in the drawers but also will make it easier to find the items on the counters. And I am willing to give up the little bit of counter space for some organization!

One of the newly organized drawers looked like this. Wow it actually closes now!

And the jar craft that helped declutter and organize the drawers looked like this! The whole project was so easy (paint, tie a ribbon, and glue on some doo dads) and was less than $10. One of the best returns on crafting investment that I’ve had some far! I’m coming for you Declutter Resolution! By Kathy Penney at www.sparklesandastove.com

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St.Patrick’s Day is March 17th. With that being said, I’m going to share Homeade Stained Glass Heart Shaped St. Patrick’s Day Four Leaf Glover

Your going to need the following materials:

* Scissors
* String you can use such as yarn, thread or ribbon will work
* Construction paper green is the color your going to use
* Wax Paper
* Tissue Paper
* Glue – I love using Arlene’s glue the best because it dries clear which is absolutely perfect for this craft project.

The first thing that you’re going to do is to cut 4 front hearts and 4 back hearts and their going to have to be the same size.

In order to achieve that you can cut two folded halves of the construction paper and cut and the same time.

Your going to cut large enough so that we can you can also cut in the inner core of the heart see picture below:

Again, you’re going to have to make 4 fronts and 4 back hearts. The purpose of this is to have a nice pretty side as well as a nice pretty back so that it’s not just the wax paper showing on the back.

You can also use a different color for the back to differentiate the front and back.

The second thing you’re going to do is cut a small heart and that small heart is going to go right in the middle of each of the four corners of the larger hearts.

The third thing that you’re going to do is tear up different color tissue paper in different shapes and sizes. However, if your going to be working with smaller kids, you might want to have larger pieces for them to handle. Another option is to have all four heart’s with different color tissue paper… it will make it less messy if working with smaller kids.

The fourth thing that you’re going to do is glue the tissue paper to the wax paper. You’ll be applying them together on the wax paper, do this step several times applying the tissue paper in different directions along with the glue. The more colorful… the better for this stained glass craft.

The fourth thing that you’re going to do is take the front heart and glue it to the shiny side of the wax paper.

The sixth thing that you’re going to do is cut along the edge the remaining wax paper away from the heart.

The seventh thing your going to do is take the back heart apply it with glue to the wax paper on the tissue paper side. You’re making it into a sandwich of the two hearts.

The eighth thing you’re going to do is put all four corners of the hearts together by overlapping the corner as well as applying the little heart you cut out directly in the middle by some glue to hold together.

The 9th thing you’re going to do is hole punch the top of a heart and string the paper.

Now you you’ve completed the St. Patrick’s Day Stained Glass Heart craft.

Feb 25

My Symphony Of Life – Episode# 32 – Business Vision With Claire Mitchell And Pinterest And Your Business With Ana

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by Ana

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Hello I’m Ana the host of My Symphony Of Life. Welcome back to another
show! I’d like to take the time to thank you for listening to my
symphony of life and allowing me to be part of your journey. Do you
have a topic idea, would you like me to share more of your favorite
hobbies, do you know someone that I should talk to on this show? If
you commented or thought of an answer for all three questions, please
provide the feedback by emailing me at feedback [at] audiosmaximus [dot] com. I
do look forward to reading your comments as well as responding to them
as well. With all of my past guests I’ve formed friendships and with
that being said on this show my featured guest is Claire Mitchell of
The Girl Means Business. The Girl Means Business was created to
inform, inspire and to show that there is a better way to do things.
Claire’s www.thegirlsmeanbusiness.com. For all of you who have a
business, you’ll l enjoy this show because Claire is going to talk
about “Why Your Business Needs A Vision”. I’m also going to talk about
Pinterest and your business. Let’s get started creating your own
symphony of life.

Pinterest is your business!!!!

For our network visit us at www.Pinterest.com/audiosmaximus and for My
Symphony Of Life, visit me at

http://www.Pinterest.com/mysymphonyoflife

To me Pinterest is all about the love of photo pinning and what I mean
by that is it’s a photo sharing site in which you can create,
categorize and collect all that does inspire you. Here’s some
information about Pinterest:

For your business, It’s important to make that first impression by
creating one powerful profile and what I mean by that is you need to
add a quality picture of your company, share a little bit about your
business, the companies social media sites, and the website as well.
Note that you have 200 characters to make a strong first impression.
Let’s make every word count!

With Pinterest for your business it’s important to have strong visual
“picture” content in order to make Pinterest a power house tool for
your marketing endeavors. Visual learners will love you for it! You
maybe on other social media sites, which is great. However, with
Pinterest you’ll be able to gain momentum with this wonderful
versatile tool by perhaps run competitions, contests or sweepstakes.
If you decide to run contest, make sure to define the goals for the
contests, etc. Note, perhaps you can co-sponsor contests and cross
promote.

You’ll be able to create your own custom service/product board,
rearrange, delete, have a group board (where you can invite
people/mastermind group) and if you put a picture in the wrong board
you can simple edit it and put it in the correct board it’s supposed
to be in.

Add a pin. I say Pin, Pin, Pin, by curating your pictures and
organizing them in the boards that you’ve created. Create content by
always pinning! However, it’s important to pin strategically! As well
as follow people strategically! With that being said, you can search
key terms and follow those who do share the same interests.

Freeze Frame! You can upload a pin a picture you’ve taken from the
sales meeting and in turn you can share the pictures taken from the
sales meeting on the board that you’ve created. You can also create a
private board in which you can invite people to. When describing your
post in order to get the most views you need to put hashtags in your
post. This will allow users to search for keywords within the
Pinterest community.
For example #audiosmaximus, #podcast, #blog, and
#crafts. If you have products or services that your looking to
promote, you need to put the $. What that does is when your in the
description and you notate $1.00 or the amount of the product or
service it will categorize the item under gifts. When you have
pictures you can put a watermark in which will define that it’s your
picture and also put your website or business name on it as well.

It’s also a place where you can meet like minded individuals who share
in the same interests that you do. It’s a place for great learning
because if there’s a tutorial on social media tips, you can click on
the picture and it will take you to a website in which you can go in
depth of learning more on that particular topic. Comment on certain
pins in order for more people to follow you. Also, if there’s a pin
that you like you can like the pin and repin. You can also see who’s
following another person and follow those followers.

It’s quite important that in order to use this great versatile tool
you need to find out what your customers like, value and what they’d
like to see more of.

I’m going to share what I have on my Pinterest account and share how
we have the Audios Maximus Network account setup. On our Audios
Maximus account we’ve created boards based around the show names. All
of the content for that particular podcast will be uploaded/added to
the boards that I created.

For My Symphony Of Life I’ve created the first two rows dedicated to
our business and then other boards that I value such as creative
writing, poetry, art, beauty, shoe closet look in, Dress you up which
is a group board in which I invite people to pin to.

Thank you for joining me for another episode of My Symphony Of Life

Until next time, be the conductor you were meant to be.

Feb 19

My Symphony Of Life – Episode# 31 – Featuring Journaling Coach & Author Mari McCarthy And Children’s Poet & Author Kenn Nesbitt

Categories:

by Ana

I’m Ana the host of My Symphony Of Life and welcome back! I’d like to take the time to thank you for listening to My Symphony Of Life. You are the reason why we do this! You are an integral part of our community and network. If there is a topic you’d like to hear more about or if you know someone who’d be perfect for me to talk to, please email me at feedback [at] audiosmaximus [dot] com. If you missed episode 30, I encourage everyone to go back and listen to that show! Our last featured guest was Mary Kay Hoal. She’s very passionate in providing privacy and safety for children. She’s the founder and president of YourSphere Media Inc., publishers of the kids’ social network Yoursphere.com. Mary Kay is also the online safety expert who has created such an environment for children. It is the first of its kind online social network for children that focuses on fun, interaction, creativity and safety. I also encourage everyone to connect with her at all her social media sites to stay updated on what she has going on as well as information that she has for parent’s abroad. Remember to let her know that you heard her on My Symphony Of Life and let her know I sent you. Thank you!

Get ready! This duo has been featured guests here on My Symphony Of Life before. They really don’t need introductions…. This show is all about expressing your inner creativity! Let’s begin conducting your Symphony Of Life!
Mari McCarthy of Create Write Now will share journaling ideas as well as prompts. Her website is www.createwritenow.com.
Kenn Nesbitt is a children’s poet and author of When the Teacher Isn’t Looking. He’s going to show us how to write Haiku poem. His website is www.poetry4kids.com. Get ready to be inspired!

Feb 12

Episode# 30 – Interview With May Kay Hoal Founder Of Kids Social Network YourSphere.Com

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by Ana

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I’m Ana the host of My Symphony Of Life. If you missed episode 29, I encourage everyone to go back and listen to that show! Our last featured guest is a blogger, founder and author of sparkles and a stove Kathy Penney. I also encourage everyone to connect with her at all her social media sites to stay updated on what she has going on. Remember to let her know that you heard her on My Symphony Of Life and let her know I sent you. Thank you!

This show is about empowering and educating parent’s by providing resources about Social Networking for their children. With that being said, On this episode I have the pleasure of talking to Mary Kay Hoal. I’m so excited to talk to her it’s because as a mom myself, it’s good to have these resources available so that I can teach my children instead of all what they might find on social media sites. I can feel good knowing that there’s a website out there that I can refer my children to. Mary Kay is very passionate in providing privacy and safety for your children. She’s the founder and president of Yoursphere Media Inc., publishers of the kids’ social network Yoursphere.com. Mary Kay is also the online safety expert who has created such an environment for your child. It is the first of its kind online social network for children that focuses on fun, interaction, creativity and safety.

Mary Kay is going to discuss 5 ways you as parent’s can combat cyber bullying.
She’s going to share some resources that you as parent’s can use for you children.
Mary Kay is going to share her tips that she’s learned along the way in her entrepreneur adventures.

Get ready! This duo has been featured guests here on My Symphony Of Life before. They really don’t need introductions…. The next show is all about expressing your inner creativity!

Mari McCarthy of Create Write Now will share journaling ideas as well as prompts and Kenn Nesbitt is a children’s poet and author of When the TeacherIsn’t Looking. He’s going to show us how to write Haiku poems. Get ready to be inspired!

Feb 05

My Symphony Of Life – Episode# 29 – Interview, Recipe And Craft Project With Kathy Penny

Categories:

http://sparklesandastove.com/sunday-dinner-07-29-12-grillin-via-pinterest-chipotle-steak-w-lime-butter/

by Ana

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I have the pleasure of talking to Kathy Penney. Kathy is the founder and author of Sparkles & A Stove. Kathy talks about her transition from corporate America to a SAHM. She provides tips for those who are currently exiting the workforce and those who are already SAHM.

All of us mom’s go through many things in our life from finding that special someone to having a relationship to getting married to having children to perhaps going through post partum depression. Here’s some effects on Post Partum Depression: Sluggishness, feelings of hopelessness/depression, confused, lack of interest in the baby, fear of harming the baby or oneself and mood swings. Many people go through the same thing! It’s important to know it’s ok to stop, reach out to others and get support. That’s what we’re here for, all of your family and friends. There maybe someone else you see as a mentor you can talk to. What can you do to perk yourself up? Begin each day by thanking God, Spend some time in reading your bible in order to receive a new refreshing, empowerment and his warmth. Go outside and get some air. The melatonin, a hormone produced only in the dark, does lower the body temp and makes you less sluggish. Stay busy by talking a walk, volunteer by helping the less fortunate, perhaps learn a new craft, pamper yourself now and then, hang around people who are up beat, go meet new people by joining clubs and those who will give you moral support. Your depression can turn into joy! Happiness is a choice. No matter what news comes your way on a daily, monthly basis you can choose. Why not choose happiness. It takes more muscles around your mouth to have a frown than to smile. My guest, Kathy talks to us about her story and her encouragement for moms. She also shares a website for additional answers that you may be looking for. http://www.postpartum.net/

Do you blog? I always asks my featured guests to share any tips that they may have gained while blogging. Kathy will share some of her blogging adventures.

Do you like trying new recipes? I do to! Kathy will share her Chipotle Recipe: Steak with Garlic Lime Butter.

Link to recipe:

Are you looking for Valentine’s day craft ideas? As an avid crafter myself, I love searching for new ways to decorate my home. Here’s another option to add to your creativity! Kathy will share a Valentine’s Day craft- Valentines Blocks.

Wooden Blocks: You can find these around your home if you or your hubby does any wood projects, at home improvement stores, or buy a big bag of various scraps for $5 at the craft store.

Paint: Either spray paint or craft paint will work.

Scrapbook paper in coordinating colors

Sandpaper

Mod Podge & Sponge

Hot glue & gun

Any embellishments you wish (These are optional)

Either vinyl letters or brush and stencil to paint your sentiment with

To get your craft on do this:

1. Paint the wooden blocks in your desired colors and let dry. Use as many blocks as you need for your sentiment

2. Make sure the wooden blocks are completely dry and use a bit of sand paper to give them a worn shabby chic or rustic look. Just enough sanding so that the wood shows through in some places.

3. Next cut your paper to fit your blocks. To cut the paper you can either use a Silhouette or a Cricut as I did, craft paper punches as I did with the photo collage I made, or you can trace the paper over the blocks letters. You can make them exactly to fit the blocks or in a pretty shape.

4. Mod podge your paper to the wooden blocks. Be sure to smooth out any bubbles!

5. If you are using your Cricut or Silhouette for your letters then cut then now. If not, skip to next step.

6. Once the mod podge is dry, either set your vinyl letters or paint them onto the woooden blocks.

7. After your vinyl letters have set or the paint is dry, add any embellishments you want. I chose these rosettes from Spare Parts because they matched the Victorian feel of the mantle. Easy breezy, add a dab of hot glue and let dry.

Voila! You are done with this super cute Valentines Day craft! The whole project was around $7 so it was a huge cuteness bang for buck and fits right in with the store bought decorations.

Blogger, Sparkles And A Stove -www.sparklesandastove.com
www.facebook.com/sparklesandastove/
Twitter: @sparkleskathy
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/sparkleskathy/

Get ready! Our next show is episode 30 and we’re going to have Mary Kay Hoal (provide some information)

Jan 01

Sponsorship Needed– Blog Conference

Categories:

Misc.

by Ana

This new year brings many blog conferences for 2013 that will be held throughout the US. The blog conference that I’d like to be a part of is the Blissdom Conference that is going to be held on March 21-23, 2013 in Dallas, TX at The Gaylord Texan. The room rate is $154 per night plus tax and based on my research it’s going to be a packed event. This would be my first blog conference! If your interested in sponsoring myself- Ana Host of My Symphony Of Life Blog and Podcast, please contact me at feedback [at] audiosmaximus [dot] com. If you’d like to donate you can go to www.audiosmaximus.com and on the right hand side we have a donation button. Thank you so much! Ana

Dec 02

Christmas Wreath Decoration

Categories:

Misc.

by Ana

I love making things for my house during this time of the year. It’s great to make things and decorate your house with the items you’ve made.

Here’s what you need:

A small box, 1 roll of ribbon of your choice, Crayola clay, rubber stamps, stamp pad, glue, berries, and foliage.

Cut the small box to the letter of your last name, take the foliage and wrap it around the cardboard, now take the berries and place them where ever you want, take the ribbon that you bought and make bows about 7 bows to start off with, now take your clay and flatten a large area, take a stamp and ink it, now stamp the clay, now cut the clay in a circular shape, and place it anywhere on the cardboard.

This craft does make a unique item for your house. I hoe to hear more about your item as well as the type of crafts you make during the holiday season.

Oct 21

BlissDom Conference – My Symphony Of Life Would Absolutely Love To Go!

Categories:

Misc.

by Ana

I would absolutely love to go to BlissDom next year! They have the date and location announced. It’s going to be great! BlissDom Conference is going to be held March 21-23, 2013 in Dallas, TX. If you’d like to sponsor me for this Blog Event, please go to www.audiosmaximus.com and on the right hand side is the donate button. Thank you so much! =)