Monday, October 31, 2011

Love, Me Monday

My fellow writer, member of Typelings, and good friend the Page Traveler gave me this idea. An idea I should have put into practice a long time ago.
It's a letter from me to whoever or whatever I feel like writing to. I decided to copy her and make it my Monday blogging theme.
Check back every Monday. Maybe there'll be a letter to you!

ahem....

Dear Halloween,

You've always been great. You're the start of cooler weather, the kick-off to holidays, and the one night of the year we can all be something we're not. How delightful!
You're the excuse to carve a pumpkin, to watch scary movies, to read spooky stories, and to be something I'm not.
My heart chuckles with glee.
I eat food I shouldn't, be sillier than I ought, and be something I'm not.
I mean, seriously, what's not to like about you?
I get to be something I'm not! For a whole night! Sometimes several nights, as was the case during my young single adult days.
I remember when I dressed up like Super-girl as a kid. Fun.
And the time I was a jogger that got bit by a vampire. Creative.
I've been a cat (or a mouse, don't remember which), an angel, a rock star, a princess, a mermaid, and Princess Leia.
Twice.
Don't forget the times I was a Lord of the Rings elf. I say times because it was more than once. And more than twice. I'm not sure of the total number. Three times? Four? I dunno.

So thank you, Halloween. Thanks for the memories. Just so you know, if Ella were here, she'd be a Ladybug. Naturally. I sure miss her. Especially on days like today. But you're still great, Halloween. And you always will be.

Cheers.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Hogwarts

Some things bring me joy.
Harry Potter is one of them.
Winning contests is another.

Our apartment complex is having a jack-o-lantern contest tomorrow.
I'll be in Mesa all day because of an appointment and work.
So I carved the pumpkin today and Bret will display it on our porch tomorrow for the judging.

I decided to carve Hogwarts Castle.
Because I knew it would be as my brother would say
disgusting.
or, freaking awesome.

Here's my process:
My victim pumpkin. 4 bucks at Wal-Mart
I think it was cross-bred with a spaghetti squash. 
Really, I'm serious. The inside had the exact same texture. Annoying.



My weapons instruments. 
Yes, those are old dental instruments.
Don't worry, they're clean. And invaluable with carving details.



Sketched in my design with some dry-erase markers.
Easily wipes off.



Partway through the carving process
Sorry it's so dark.



And finally, the finished product.
Disgusting.
There's an HP carved backwards on the back of the pumpkin to achieve the cool spotlight effect.

 And only one casualty...

Think I'll win?

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

So I checked up on my followers...

And I realized they've multiplied! Holy canoli, I've got 45!

Now, for you folks who have 100+ or even 1000+ (um, jealous) that might not seem like such an exciting number. But it got me thinking, Wow! I need to blog more! And blog better.

Because someone out there likes me!
That puts a nice little bloom of happy in my heart.

Ok, so here we go.
Remember how I despise Biology? Well, in case you didn't know that, consider yourself informed. I can't stand this subject. My brain just doesn't get it until after it's explained to me the way you'd explain it to a nine-year-old. Pretty sure people younger than that don't have to learn biology.
So glad my husband was a Bio major. He's a genius at this stuff. Blows my mind.
Can't wait till I can write essays.
Anyway, we got our last test back yesterday. The teacher sent us an email before the fact saying that the class average was 71%, ten percent lower than our previous test average. He said he was going to provide a worksheet to help us boost our grades up.
I was worried.

Got my test back.
91%

Um.....
booyah!
Happy dance.
You know the one, Jessica. Wish I had a video of that one.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Glitter Toes!!

Broadcast Bloggers is awesome.

They give me sweet deals.

And I can hook you up.

By clicking on the link below, you can get a kit for Glitter toes for 65% off! Retail is $111.50 but you get it for 39 bucks! And this includes shipping.
You get:
12 colors
brush, file, base, bond, and seal (The bond and seal are an added bonus)

These glitter toes last about six weeks and you can do this yourself at home!
Save some major moola....


Like it says on the picture, the deal ends on the 29th, so hurry and order yours!!

http://www.broadcastbloggers.com/deal.php?i=104&a=1069138

Friday, October 21, 2011

Guess I better post

Just so you know, I'm holding off on the self-publishing. Hero London will happen one day. Just not now.

Just reviewed my "Before I turn 30" bucket list. Here's what I've done so far:

#2. Read the Book of Mormon cover to cover. Our bishop challenged us to read it in 90 days. I did it!
#6. Start a new book. Well, I guess I can count this. Mostly I re-started a book that I lost a good portion of when my computer crashed. It was in terrible need of a re-write anyway.
#9. Repurpose a piece of furniture. Remember my kitchen hutch? *squee!* It's so pretty. I love it!
#10. Read a classic I've never read before. Just finished Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Interesting read. Glad I read it. Will I ever read it again? Probably not. But a good one.
#18. Make a movie. Vacation video. Bret dissecting a grapefruit video. Brother's mission video. Check, check, check.
#21. Go back to school. Taking Bio 101! Do I give a rat's butt about ribosomes? Not really. But I'm learning a lot.
#24. Take a dance class. Does Zumba count? If not.... put it back on the list.
#25. Work up the courage to cut my hair. Done and done. Growing it out again. he he he.

That's 8 things done. Out of 29. Better get my rear in gear.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Self-publishing

I'm thinking about going the indie route.

I've sent my writing to publishers and agents and all I get are big fat No's.

I got some advice from my new friend Britney Jensen, author of Risen.
(If you also follow Chapterhouse Lane, forgive this redundancy.)

She published her book through createspace.com. It only cost her the isbn number.

So that's very little investment on my part.
And to tell you the truth, I'm not in it for the money.
Okay, maybe a little.
I'd love to earn enough money to support my family while my husband is in school. Or to earn enough to pay down his student loans after he graduates.
Or to, ahem, go back to England.

But getting rich isn't my whole motivation. Nor is fame.
In fact, if I do get published, you'll never actually see my name on the book. I'll have my picture on it, but it'll be a vague picture. Yeah I'll do signings if it were to ever actually come to that, but as Hero. Not as Amy. No, I'm not doing the Hannah Montana thing. No disguises. 
I guess what I'm trying to say is I just want to write books and maybe have some success at it.
Not J.K. Rowling success or even Stephanie Meyer success.
Maybe Shannon Hale success. :)

Anyway, so it's looking like self-publishing is my only option. Through createspace.com, I could publish my books online so you could purchase then for a Kindle or a Nook reader, etc. And if you wanted it in book form, you can buy it from createspace in a paperback.

This feels like a good decision. I'll be in charge of my own product. No agents or publishers ever pressuring me to "spice things up" in my stories.

What do you think?

Friday, October 7, 2011

Ohmygosh Ohmygosh

Awesome giveaway happening over at
The Page Traveler Tales

Definitely, DEFINITELY go check it out!!
A signed copy of Risen by Britney Jensen is one of the prizes!!
I really hope I win.
I get to meet this author TOMORROW!!!! WAHOO! So stoked!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Coupla things:

Because of school, I write stuff in outlines a lot. So here we go.

1. I missed a lot of conference. 
~I'm very sad about it.
~Planning to catch up on all the talks via internet.

2. Biology is both amazing and unmerciful.
~Reading from my textbook makes me feel like an imbecile
             - i.e. "In incomplete dominance, the heterozygous phenotype is intermediate between that of either homozygote." -Human Genetics by Ricki Lewis 
             - um, what?
~Then again, the complexity of the human body testifies to me that there is indeed a God in Heaven.
             - I wonder how can people not believe in Him with this information in front of them.
~Biology even helps you learn about British History. awesome
             - Learned all about a disease King George III had.
             - Found it fascinating.
             - Doing an extra credit term paper on it.

3. Lots of crafting/writing projects.
~some have blown up in my face
             - never sewing without a pattern AGAIN.
~some have turned out so utterly cute!
~my friend has a weekly "Pinterest Party" so we can actually get some of these cool ideas DONE instead of just pinning them to a board.
              - can't wait for tomorrow's party.
              - working on Halloween decorations
~just finished chapter 5 of a new story.
              - liking it a lot!
              - will need polishing. What story doesn't?
~still working on a sequel to my story Fathom.
              - meh. Coming along. sorta.

3. Sometimes life really sucks.
~even my Mom said so. In those words.
~I won't go into detail. Just know that I'm doing fine.

4. Prayer works.
~Gets you through the crappy things.
~There's ALWAYS an answer. There's ALWAYS a reason.
~God wants to bless us. He's waiting to bless me for just the right time and season.