Could it rival a Kindle?
www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/organizing/kids-storage-00100000064587/page7.html
Wish I had thought of this when my kids were young, or better yet when I was young.
Maybe I'll make one for myself now.
How about you? Feel free to comment and/or follow.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
October is....
As most of us are aware October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a serious issue that deserves our full support and awareness. And at the end of the month we celebrate the eerie, spooky and sweet with Halloween.
But did you know October is also Eat Country Ham Month, National Pizza Month, National Popcorn Popping Month, National Apple Month, National Pretzel Month, National Pickled Pepper Month, National Pork, Seafood, Pasta, Sausage, Carmel and Cookie Month. It is also World Chocolate Awareness Month, which I am not sure what that means. Am I to be aware of Chocolate, in the world? But more importantly, do I eat chocolate from around the world?
Ironically, October is also Hunger Awareness Month.
And let your teenagers know, October is also National Sarcastic Month.
Only one month, not all year like my teenagers assume.
For the writers, I found October is American Magazine Month and the third week of October is Teen Read week.
October has a few special days for writers too.
October 15th is National Poetry Day.
October 16th is National Dictionary Day, Noah Webster’s Birthday, and School Librarian Day.
October 18th is Oprah’s Book Club Anniversary started in 1996.
October 29th is International Internet Day.
So go ahead celebrate October in a myriad of ways, meanwhile I’ll be waiting for October 24th to celebrate National Crazy Day.
Feel free to comment on how you might be celebrating in October.
But did you know October is also Eat Country Ham Month, National Pizza Month, National Popcorn Popping Month, National Apple Month, National Pretzel Month, National Pickled Pepper Month, National Pork, Seafood, Pasta, Sausage, Carmel and Cookie Month. It is also World Chocolate Awareness Month, which I am not sure what that means. Am I to be aware of Chocolate, in the world? But more importantly, do I eat chocolate from around the world?
Ironically, October is also Hunger Awareness Month.
And let your teenagers know, October is also National Sarcastic Month.
Only one month, not all year like my teenagers assume.
For the writers, I found October is American Magazine Month and the third week of October is Teen Read week.
October has a few special days for writers too.
October 15th is National Poetry Day.
October 16th is National Dictionary Day, Noah Webster’s Birthday, and School Librarian Day.
October 18th is Oprah’s Book Club Anniversary started in 1996.
October 29th is International Internet Day.
So go ahead celebrate October in a myriad of ways, meanwhile I’ll be waiting for October 24th to celebrate National Crazy Day.
Feel free to comment on how you might be celebrating in October.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
A Curvy, Swerving Journey
I wish I had learned years ago that the path to a goal is seldom a straight line.
I was mistakenly under the impression that it was and whenever I was forced off the road to my goal, I would fall prey to feelings of failure. And those feelings quickly led to “What’s the Use.”
But over the years I have come to embrace the far more realistic expressions
“it is the journey not the destination” and “enjoy the process”.
Of course this is not always easy, but the connection with other writers has helped me to learn the value of the curvy, swervy road. By reading blogs, participating in loops and forums, joining chats, and committing to numerous online classes, and even a couple real-time in person classes, I have learned that very few of us enjoy a straight line path to our goal.
Ten years ago attempted to write and publish, but I was quickly derailed. And my many previous attempts at weight loss have always focused on getting to the goal weight, never enjoying the process.
But with all the support, knowledge and help that is available at the touch of the keyboard, any time day or night I no longer feel alone or like a complete failure. Reading and connecting with others who are struggling and succeeding one day, one moment, or one line at a time reminds me that is all that I have to do. And in doing so I have learned to accept that each swerve or curve in my road to my goals offers opportunities -- for growth, for change, and for more learning.
I set out a year and a half ago to write and then get published a romance that had been simmering in my mind. The path I embarked upon has been anything but straight. But instead of giving up with all bumping, winding, curving, and twisting I accepted that this was my road. Each time I felt thrown off course, which was often, I checked in with what was and wasn’t working, listened to my creativity and now have three children’s fiction stories published. Talk about going off course, but who is to say. My road may yet lead to a romance published, but if not, that is okay.
So thank you, for your blogs, emails, forums, chats, and online support, because without them I might not have accepted the roller-coaster ride my journey has become.
Feel free to weigh in on the path that is your journey or the process you are embracing as you work toward your goals.
I was mistakenly under the impression that it was and whenever I was forced off the road to my goal, I would fall prey to feelings of failure. And those feelings quickly led to “What’s the Use.”
But over the years I have come to embrace the far more realistic expressions
“it is the journey not the destination” and “enjoy the process”.
Of course this is not always easy, but the connection with other writers has helped me to learn the value of the curvy, swervy road. By reading blogs, participating in loops and forums, joining chats, and committing to numerous online classes, and even a couple real-time in person classes, I have learned that very few of us enjoy a straight line path to our goal.
Ten years ago attempted to write and publish, but I was quickly derailed. And my many previous attempts at weight loss have always focused on getting to the goal weight, never enjoying the process.
But with all the support, knowledge and help that is available at the touch of the keyboard, any time day or night I no longer feel alone or like a complete failure. Reading and connecting with others who are struggling and succeeding one day, one moment, or one line at a time reminds me that is all that I have to do. And in doing so I have learned to accept that each swerve or curve in my road to my goals offers opportunities -- for growth, for change, and for more learning.
I set out a year and a half ago to write and then get published a romance that had been simmering in my mind. The path I embarked upon has been anything but straight. But instead of giving up with all bumping, winding, curving, and twisting I accepted that this was my road. Each time I felt thrown off course, which was often, I checked in with what was and wasn’t working, listened to my creativity and now have three children’s fiction stories published. Talk about going off course, but who is to say. My road may yet lead to a romance published, but if not, that is okay.
So thank you, for your blogs, emails, forums, chats, and online support, because without them I might not have accepted the roller-coaster ride my journey has become.
Feel free to weigh in on the path that is your journey or the process you are embracing as you work toward your goals.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Beat the Heat - Lower-Calorie-Than Ice Cream Substitute
In my quest to get published and my quest to get to my wedding weight I have had to be creative,
in both arenas.
This blog I thought I’d share with you a lower-calorie-than ice cream substitute that even works for my husband (a huge ice cream fan) and my teenage son.
Take individual fat free yogurt containers and throw them in the freezer.
Yoplait now has inspired flavors including Cinnamon Bun, Red Velvet Cake, Black Forest Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Key Lime Pie and Boston Cream Pie.
A few short hours later the yogurt is solid and can be
chipped away,
slowly,
painstakingly
dragging the dessert eating experience out. Especially nice when watching TV.
Cold, sweet, individually packaged and a healthy alternative to dessert.
And for the more budget-conscious. I also buy the larger tub size fat free yogurt and using the small Gladware individual containers, spoon some in and free these. You could also add your own fruit to these if you want.
So no more 1/2 gallon later, wondering where that 1/2 gallon of full fat ice cream went.
Feel Free to share any of your creative, lower calorie substitutes?
in both arenas.
This blog I thought I’d share with you a lower-calorie-than ice cream substitute that even works for my husband (a huge ice cream fan) and my teenage son.
Take individual fat free yogurt containers and throw them in the freezer.
Yoplait now has inspired flavors including Cinnamon Bun, Red Velvet Cake, Black Forest Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Key Lime Pie and Boston Cream Pie.
A few short hours later the yogurt is solid and can be
chipped away,
slowly,
painstakingly
dragging the dessert eating experience out. Especially nice when watching TV.
Cold, sweet, individually packaged and a healthy alternative to dessert.
And for the more budget-conscious. I also buy the larger tub size fat free yogurt and using the small Gladware individual containers, spoon some in and free these. You could also add your own fruit to these if you want.
So no more 1/2 gallon later, wondering where that 1/2 gallon of full fat ice cream went.
Feel Free to share any of your creative, lower calorie substitutes?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Be Kind to Writer's and Editor's
I was doing some research and found out that this month, September is
Be Kind to Writer's and Editor's Month. How cool is that? Our very own month where others should be KIND to us. It's nice to be thought of.
We share the month.
September is also Pink Flamingo Month, National Potato Month and Save the Tiger Month.
But back to our writerly pursuits, September is also officially
Adult Literacy Month and Read-A -New Book Month.
I'm off to put the pink flamingo on the lawn, have a potato and start a new book.
How will you celebrate this prestigious month? Feel free to share.
Be Kind to Writer's and Editor's Month. How cool is that? Our very own month where others should be KIND to us. It's nice to be thought of.
We share the month.
September is also Pink Flamingo Month, National Potato Month and Save the Tiger Month.
But back to our writerly pursuits, September is also officially
Adult Literacy Month and Read-A -New Book Month.
I'm off to put the pink flamingo on the lawn, have a potato and start a new book.
How will you celebrate this prestigious month? Feel free to share.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
My First Guest Blog
This is the link to my first ever Guest Blog.
Hop on over and read how doing this guest blog was another small step on my road to publication.
Feel Free to comment here or on the Savvy Authors Blog.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
First Lines and First Bites
I have been doing a lot of thinking and reading of first lines lately. I have taken several workshops on Beginnings including Hooks, Lines and Sinkers with Lynette Labelle, Great Beginnings with Lynn Kerstan, and others. At a Margie Lawson workshop last month she spent time sighting examples of well-written first lines.
We all know how important that first line is to hook your potential reader, agent or editor, so I have become a collector of inspiring first lines.
And in keeping with the theme of this blog, my quest for publication and my quest to get to my wedding weight, I realized that first lines are a lot like first bites. The more delicious they are, the more I want. At least with books I can satisfy the craving without gaining weight.
I also read recently that all the taste of food is held in the first three bites. The idea being I should be able to stop after those three bites. Not as easy as it sounds.
Luckily with a tantalizing first line, first paragraph, and first page I don’t have to stop. I can keep reading, just as the author enticed me to.
So here are some samples of my favorite first lines. I hope they inspire you too.
Risk,Dick Francis
Thursday, March 17, I spent the morning in anxiety, the afternoon in ecstasy, and the evening unconscious.
Ten Big Ones,Janet Evanovich (2004)
The way I see it, life is a jelly doughnut. You don’t really know what it’s about until you bite into it. And then, just when you decide it’s good, you drop a big glob of jelly on your best T-shirt.
(I had to add two more bites (I mean lines) because they were so delicious.)
Lord Dragoner’s Wife, Lynn Kerstan
19 June, 1814
The house at Clichy, old and somewhat dilapidated, did not look to be the residence of the woman who had all of Paris at her feet.
Going Overboard, Christina Skye
Carolina Sullivan needed a man’s body desperately.
Juliet Naked, Nick Hornby
They had flown from England to Minneapolis to look at a toilet.
Fear No Evil by Allison Brennan (2007)
The sick and depraved had voted: death by stabbing.
Dangerous Deceptions, Lynn Kerstan
Jarrett, Lord Dering, rode his astonishing good luck the way he rode an enthusiastic woman.
Back When We Were Grownups, Anne Tyler (2001)
Once upon a time, there was a woman who discovered she had turned into the wrong person.
The Spiral Path, Mary Jo Putney (2002)
The trouble with reality was that it was so dammed real.
Feel free to comment on your feelings concerning first lines and first bites.
We all know how important that first line is to hook your potential reader, agent or editor, so I have become a collector of inspiring first lines.
And in keeping with the theme of this blog, my quest for publication and my quest to get to my wedding weight, I realized that first lines are a lot like first bites. The more delicious they are, the more I want. At least with books I can satisfy the craving without gaining weight.
I also read recently that all the taste of food is held in the first three bites. The idea being I should be able to stop after those three bites. Not as easy as it sounds.
Luckily with a tantalizing first line, first paragraph, and first page I don’t have to stop. I can keep reading, just as the author enticed me to.
So here are some samples of my favorite first lines. I hope they inspire you too.
Risk,Dick Francis
Thursday, March 17, I spent the morning in anxiety, the afternoon in ecstasy, and the evening unconscious.
Ten Big Ones,Janet Evanovich (2004)
The way I see it, life is a jelly doughnut. You don’t really know what it’s about until you bite into it. And then, just when you decide it’s good, you drop a big glob of jelly on your best T-shirt.
(I had to add two more bites (I mean lines) because they were so delicious.)
Lord Dragoner’s Wife, Lynn Kerstan
19 June, 1814
The house at Clichy, old and somewhat dilapidated, did not look to be the residence of the woman who had all of Paris at her feet.
Going Overboard, Christina Skye
Carolina Sullivan needed a man’s body desperately.
Juliet Naked, Nick Hornby
They had flown from England to Minneapolis to look at a toilet.
Fear No Evil by Allison Brennan (2007)
The sick and depraved had voted: death by stabbing.
Dangerous Deceptions, Lynn Kerstan
Jarrett, Lord Dering, rode his astonishing good luck the way he rode an enthusiastic woman.
Back When We Were Grownups, Anne Tyler (2001)
Once upon a time, there was a woman who discovered she had turned into the wrong person.
The Spiral Path, Mary Jo Putney (2002)
The trouble with reality was that it was so dammed real.
Feel free to comment on your feelings concerning first lines and first bites.
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