Road Trip!!

So I am off, in my huge Van...no not mini van, my 15 passenger with 3 kids, to drive across country for 8 plus hours today. And no it's not as laid back as the car's van. Wish me luck, that there will be no arguing kids, and no crazy drivers ( oh, wait, that's me) and that I make it back in one solid piece with my sanity still intact.

It's a beautiful day, and I'm hoping to not get too tired since I have a tendency to lull to sleep in a car. I have ever since I was little. And with no relief driver, I will have to hop my self up on unearthly amounts of caffeine and sugar to keep awake... but then the screaming kids should help out too, right?

So time for great adventures across the continental divide! Colorado here I come, see ya in a while Utah! But either way I look at it, I still have the mountains!

Come Check out my Friend Tristi's newest book!!!!

I have something very fun to share today! My dear friend and author Tristi Pinkston is excited to announce the release of the third novel in her Secret Sisters Mysteries series.

Titled Hang ‘em High, this novel takes place on a dude ranch in Montana. When Ida Mae’s son invites her to come for a visit, of course she brings Arlette and Tansy along with her. They are expecting to spend the week looking at horses, avoiding the cows, and making amends in Ida Mae’s relationship with her son. What they don’t expect is to be stuck on the ranch in the middle of a blizzard and to be thrust headlong into the middle of a mystery.

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Help Tristi celebrate her new novel in two ways. First, come participate in the two-week-long blog contest, where you can win a book nearly every single day! All the details are up on Tristi’s blog.

Second, come to the book launch!

You are invited to an

August Authorama!

Saturday, August 13th

Pioneer Book, 858 S. State, Orem

12 – 4 pm

Games, prizes, balloons, face painting,

and Dutch oven cobbler

prepared by world champion cook

Keith Fisher.

Authors Tristi Pinkston, J. Lloyd Morgan, Cindy Hogan,

Nichole Giles, and Heather Justesen

will all be there to sign books.

This is one book launch event

you will not want to miss!

Fun and Games

Who would of thought that being silly with your kids and acting like one would revive you so much?? The other night when I was sure I would drop dead of exhaustion, and all I wanted to do was go grab a few Zs I was dragged with my oldest daughter to her friends house for a study session at 11 o'late thirty at night, with my two littlest in tow.

I tried to get those Zs like I wanted, and it would only be a 5 min side trip to drop us off, but noo, we all had to go along for the ride.

So while my daughter and her friend studied for their test, my littlest girls did the Wii just dance game and were racking up the points while my other daughter recorded them on her computer's camera.

"Mom has to do this" all four of my daughters and their friend demanded.

"No", I said, "I haven't done this game before and I'm tired."

"You minored in dance in college Mom, you will be fine, and who cares if you are tired?!"

So I dragged my super tired rear out of the seat and set my wii mote and went for it against my littlest daughters. I was gonna show them what I was made of for sure!

It was pretty dang fun!! and I beat both of them, maybe I should of let them win, but umm nope, they insisted I play and my competitive nature sprang to life, and revived me. And they weren't getting off that easy. I had to win

I took them by 1000 plus points and won!! Ya. Then my youngest daughter said to me ever so sweetly, "Mom, you can't play against us anymore cuz you smashed us!" she said with a laugh.

well, she told me didn't she??

I was wide awake after that, but what fun!

I'm thinking we need to go and get our own just dance wii game and have more dance offs and maybe one day, she and her sisters will be good enough to smash me instead!

checking in late late late

A quick little blurb to check in and be accountable to myself. So this week counting this posting, I got in my 3 blogging posts that I was aiming for. But I still have three to do by Tues this coming week. I will do it! Just you wait and see.

As for extra followers I was able to add another, leaving me with 17 left to meet my goal. I hope I make it.

And for writing, with all the traveling and demands from my family and some minor crisis's along the way that rose up, I wasn't able to get my numbers in like I wanted to, but I did write non the less. I wrote about 7 pages. Only half of what I was aiming for, but grateful that I could get them in. At least I was writing and that is all that counts.

Considering that I haven't even had the chance to exercise and I feel like a major slug since I got here early sun morning even though I planned to get to it at least 3 times while I was gone, and have yet to get out beyond basic walking in the grocery store, which isn't walking but really walk pausing; I'm amazed I got more than two words strung together at a time.

This all being said, I do have the remainder of this week and into Tues to get things done. I plan to get at least another 7 pages written, since I will be driving most of Sunday, and meeting the demands of my family on vacation( my hubby is not with me, and neither are my two oldest boys, if that tells you anything) I think that will be a stretch, still, I don't want to end up not writing enough for next week and facing Karaoke.

So three more posts, and 7 more pages and 17 more followers is the goal, I hope i make it!!
well, off now to try and meet them! Cross those fingers for me once again!

Whoever said being on vacation was, well, a vacation?

I'm out of town. I left being an exercise instructor behind, but only after about 6 hours of work looking for a sub. I have my youngest kids with me, and my husband stayed home. I have to make sure I meet all my family's expectations and what they want me to do. I feel like I am working more now, than when I was at home in some ways.

What ever happened to the lazy days doing what ever you wanted? OH ya, I forgot. Just because I'm on vacation, doesn't mean that I get to do what I want unless I leave the kids behind. But then leaving the kids behind means leaving some of the fun behind too. At least I don't have to teach. So that is a huge old plus in my book!

But I am having a good time seeing good friends, and trying to catch up on stuff I have fallen behind on. Like an extra post for the week. So tomorrow I am going to do my accountablity post. I get to take fun pictures of my kids flipping out and have a great time being silly. So even though I know I will be super tired from my vacation later, it will be worth it all in the end.

Things may be planned out, but some times just sitting back, relaxing and chatting without a firm schedule is pretty great too!

Accountability

For me accountability to just myself seems to be a problem. I really need to have others to be accountable to, other wise I find every excuse in the book to not do something and procrastination and I become tighter friends. Sometimes you just need that extra little push, that kick that gets you moving in a forward direction again, even if it is the smallest of steps forward, at least it is progress.

Checking in once a week on my goals has made me more productive in more ways besides the goals I have outlined in my blog. Weird how that happens, but I'm glad it has.

Just so you know, I have made great progress in my outlined goals, in all three of them I have made great strides so far. And it is sort of funny how events that have transpired have gone a long way in helping me to achieve those goals.

So First of all I give huge props for Ali cross at alicross.blogspot.com for her amazing blog fest that I joined in at the last minute. It helped me to accomplish the last of my posting goals for the week making it three in all. Not to mention how it helped make great strides toward my goal of reaching 100 followers by the end of July. I have 18 more to go. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I reach it. Cross your fingers and send up a few prayers for me too. That might just give me a little extra help in meeting that goal.

And last the very real, very worrisome threat of singing Karaoke if I don't meet my writing goal of 15 pages a week has me moving forward with a steady clip for my story. I got in 20 pages even, and surpassed it. I think I was just making sure it was obvious I had reached my quota. And alas, I blogging, texting or face book couldn't be used toward that goal even though I still say it is writing. I tried and it was shot down in a micro second. Oh well! You can't say I didn't try!

So now I am half way there toward my goal. This week and next week to go and I will end the first of Aug, and let you know my total standing. So now I am off to be sure I meet my goals.

Once more they are : 3 postings a week, 15 pages of writing for my story and 100 followers for my blog.

What are you goals that you have set for your self and what are you doing to be sure you are achieving them? Let me know, I'd love to hear them!

It's Independence Day and Something Unexpected Happens...Flash fiction

I'm participating in Ali Cross's Flash Fiction Blog fest. So here goes my 250 word story, let me know what you think!


It was the party of the year. Fireworks burst in an explosion of color across the inky black sky and hung in the air. Alyson’s excitement added to the chorus of oohs and aahs surrounding her.

It was the most magical Fourth of July of her entire life, but she hoped the best part wasn't over yet.

Gabe, the hottest guy in school, with his fathomless dark eyes and matching wavy hair invited her to be his date for the night. She pinched her arm once more to be sure it wasn't all a fabulous dream. She was sure she was in love.

“Are you up for a walk?” Gabe asked.

“Sounds fantastic.” Alyson smiled as Gabe reached for her hand and laced his fingers through hers. Electricity pulsed through her body on contact.

Did he feel it too?

The flare of emotion flash across his eyes told her he did. His goofy half smile made him even more adorable.

The only thing left to make this the best night of her life would be if Gabe kissed her. She sent up a silent prayer and crossed her fingers that he would.

He drew her into the shadows of a nearby building.

“Come here.” He said in a soft voice. As Gabe pulled her into the warmth of his embrace Alyson’s heart beat faster. His head leaned slowly toward hers.

This was it.

Her eyes closed in anticipation and screamed as his sharp teeth sank deep into her neck.



Well there it is, let me know what you think! Go here to read the other participants entries. A special thanks to Ali Cross for putting togehter this fun blog fest! Thanks Ali!! You Rock!!

Star wishing and Checking in!

I'm wishing on a star, or maybe it's really a nebula or a plant either way, I'm wishing and I hoping my dreams come true as I reach for them, one goal at a time.

So a quick little blurb to be accountable to my writing goals.

So as to writing blogging three times this week! I did it Wha hooo!! Yay for me!

As to adding more followers, I was able to add 2 more. Any one with suggestions on how to be more outgoing in the blogging world would be welcome. But hey, I am working toward my goal still! Just 30 more to go!

And then getting 15 pages of my WIP accomplished was a huge YES!! I got more than 15 even, and tightened up my plot , characters and researched my story lines and learned more about writing too!

It feels so amazing to get to say I did it! I feels wonderful to have a fourth of my goal for the month of July accomplished successfully! I am looking forward to reporting back next week on how I did for this weeks continuing goals... 15 more pages, 2 more blog postings and hopefully adding a few more followers too.

I know I can, I know I can.... to coin a phrase from The Little Engine that Could. Accomplishing those goals sure makes me feel like I can do what ever I set my mind to, it's all about making the decision to do it and then sticking to it with the following through part until it is finished. And sometimes that can be the hardest part of all!

Well off to get some writing done, and maybe surpassing my goals once more!! Keep your fingers crossed for me, since I can't do it myself. Why not you ask?? well, how can I type and let my fingers fly across the keyboard if they are crossed??? I guess I could, but it would take a whole lot longer to do it! So please, will you cross yours for me??? I really appreciate it!

Let it Rain!!

Currently, in the fine state of Colorado, where I live, we have had a few gushing rainstorms, and I have wondered as the rain blew sideways and hit me with the gale force of a monsoon soaking me to the skin in a flash, am I in the right place or did I some how get transported to some tropical island where things like this are the norm? They have truly been a sight to behold, magestic in their power and awesome in thier abiltiy to transform.

But it is Colorado after all, an extention of the desert. Sure there are mountains and we have snow, but lots of rain and flash floods with water pooling in some places five feel high has never happened in the years I've lived here. Not that it doesn't bring its own brand of excitement and entertainment. My kids have soaked their clothes and played in the rain thoroughly exhilarated at the prospect of running through the gutters at the side of the road splashing to their hearts content loving every minute of it!

But I have to admit that seeing the trees blow sideways and and the rain pour off my roof and then later my car as I was driving, I was surprised by the power behind it all.

But the thing is, no matter how hard the rain storm, there is always a rainbow at the end. A beautiful portrayal of color splashed across the sky. Signaling new beginnings and things washed clean and turned new once more. It is a beautiful thing to know that there is renewal in the rain. A chance for a fresh start, or even a hint of some new beginning that lets you grow and brings a resurgence of life. The birds sing sweetly in the air, the sun sends its golden rays down to dispel the darkness and the water brings life both to the world and in as sense to our spirits, refreshing us and reminding us that everything gets a chance to start over again.

I like the idea of fresh starts and new chances. When life weighs you down, it can pick you up when you least expect it and send a resurgence of hope and faith and excitement for what life may hold for you right around the corner. I have decided that sometimes it all really boils down to a decision. A choice to make your life better, to believe it can be. To turn from the old and embrace the new opportunities and creative expressions waiting to be discovered. That sometimes all we need to begin again, is make the decision, to begin again. It's that easy. And as with the rain bring refreshing moisture and cool breezes and even sometimes a raging storm, they all work to bring a cl easing, whether of the earth or the soul, it can be one and the same it relates to the decisions to move forward and embrace the future with all the excitement it can bring.

So I say, let it rain. Open the heavens and let it pour on down, because in the cleansing comes the new beginnings, the fresh starts and then creativity on so many fascinating levels!

Today is a Marvelous Day!!

Why is today so darned marvelous you ask?? Why indeed!!! There is one very important reason, and that is today is the day I get to see my daughter Danielle! Big deal you may think to your self. But it really is a big deal, at least it is to me and her Dad and her brothers and sisters. Today is the day that she comes home from being gone after being practically unreachable for the last seven weeks while she has been on her study abroad program for school.

But with today's modern world and all the technology around us, it would be easy to keep in touch with her even with her being half way around the world right?? But you would be surprised! Even though our cell phones have unlimited texting, they are useless in Europe, so two forms(text and calls) of communication...GONE! Unless I want to pay a million dollars and call long distance the old fashion way.

Ok you say, well, there is always Skype. That is better than texting anyway, because you get to see the person you are talking to and it's like they are right there with you. And yes that is very true, but if your computer is older than dirt, and your laptop doesn't have that capability, then in essence you are screwed! So, another option bites the dust!!

Email, you say!! Use it, that is a great way to keep in touch! And your right, it would be, if she ever answered my emails!! UGH!!

And Snail mail! Not enough! I got one post card the whole time she was gone!

Then there is facebook. Thank Heavens for social media options! It saved my life, and kept me from going crazy! I was able to IM her!! Yahoo!! But wait...there was a huge hitch! That was trying to catch her when she was on, and adjust for the 7 to 8 hour difference. But she did put pictures up, and I got to see her still form having the time of her life. And I could leave her a post to let her know I missed her.

And the thing that kept me sane of all, was her daily assignment to post on her blog! With a required 5 pictures to be posted. I got to read where she went, and see what she did, and her friends she made and keep up on her adventures in England, Ireland, France, Spain and Italy. I got to see the beauty of Europe and know she was having a wonderful time and was very very happy. I am so glad that her professors made this a requirement,and I believe it was more for us, at home, than for those on Study Abroad.

But tonight is best of all! She gets off the plane at 9:30 and I get to hold her and hug her to death. I get to see all the millions of pictures she took and hear about the stories not posted! I am sooo excited I can hardly stand it. I am just so glad that she didn't go to Europe back when all these communication options were just a thing of the imagination, and letters and super expensive phone calls were all that was available. Thank Heaven for all that modern technology brings to us!!

Well, I'm off to do a happy dance and hold my anticipation in check! She comes home today!! It is the most marvelous day of all!!

blogging and writing goal

I must make a confession. One that I think was a long time in coming, and quite frankly one I need to admit to myself. My daughter Danielle has out blogged me! She has laid down the gauntlet and shown me up quite a bit!

Not only is she having the best fun of her life traveling through Europe, but she also started her blog in May and has written in it just about everyday since then all while traveling all over Europe. Sure it is an assignment while she studied abroad this summer,and ya it's required, but really that doesn't matter. She has blogged her heart out! What I have I done while she's been gone? Well, read her blog of course http://aportraitofdanielle.blogspot.com How could I not?? But certainly not blogging myself.

Dani has had some pretty great adventures and have to say she has shown me that I have been making blogging way harder than it needs to be. Maybe it's because so many of my Friends are soo good at it, that I feel like it's tough to keep up at their level, but really now I see it was just an excuse. That if my amazing daughter can show me up in a heartbeat, then maybe I need to get on the ball, and show her that I can keep up. Or at least make an attempt...an honest attempt.

I used to wonder how all my friends managed it, how they were able to blog so much, but now I think I am going to challenge myself to blog like they do! I am going to take the month of July and blog it like I've never blogged before! OK, not everyday, but I will commit to at least three times a week! I will attempt to blog everyday from here out, but since July started um 3 days ago, I sort of missed that particular boat. But blogging I will do from here on out.

I hope to gain a few more followers and I hope to learn something more about myself and what I can accomplish, because I am also going to add a writing goal for my novel here too. I will write at least 15 pages a week. No less and I will come back on Sunday to report my results of blogging and writing.

Hey I have to be accountable to myself somehow, and since I have been a pretty big bump on a log lately, not motivated to do much more than find ways to avoid everything I love to do, I am kicking my own butt. And giving all my friends to kick it along with me!! If you want to add your butt kicking motivation to the comments... please please go for it!! Heaven knows I really Really REALLY need it!

I need to get back to the land of the living instead of wallowing in the land of the forgotten and feeling lost all the time while I wander aimlessly(metaphorically speaking) all over the place getting absolutely nothing accomplished. So here I go, with the first entry! Keep your fingers crossed that I will accomplish what I am setting out to do! I think it will be really cathartic and get me back on track, and moving forward like I need to!!

So here it goes!! Let the fun begin!! The Official Goals for July : 1) blog at least 3 times a week, everyday if possible 2) Increase my followers and maybe break 100 if really lucky! 3) write 15 pages of Into The Crimson Sun every week! 4) Report progress on goals truthfully every Sunday.