Friday Feature

Bon Iver



Feist


Walk the Moon




Enjoy!

Best of 2011

The winner of  the Best of 2011 Giveaway Hop is Book Attict. Congrats and enjoy!

Welcome to the Blog Hop!  Thanks to our awesome host, Kathy at http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/  :) 

My book in 2011 is Paranormalcy by Kiersten White.



This is the first in the series and it's sets the tone. It's funny, witty and a bleepin' good time. :) It's all about Evie, bag 'em, tag 'em and leave. She's good at her job and enjoys it too. She's the only one who can see through the other paranormals glamors and identify them for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. Her best friend is a mermaid, and her ex boyfriend is a faerie, and she is starting to fall for a shape shifter. What about Evie? Well her normal life gets thrown in the air when she starts having crazy dreams and learns about a faerie prophesy  that may be the end of paranormals around her, and maybe Evie herself.

Awesome, yeah?! Yeah, it is. :) and Ladies and Gentlemen, it's a signed copy!

To Enter:  You must be a follower (Have your pic--or blue box/name--show up in the followers box, no pic, no win.) and leave me your fav book of 2011, and your email in case you win. :) GOOD LUCK!  Sorry, U.S. only

 You can see other members in the hop here: http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/ 
OR Here:

Friday Feature

Happy Holidays! Here are some of the songs being played at our house:

Yes, I have three girls. Here's Justin Bieber:


Alvin and the Chipmunks:


Michael Buble and Thalia:


This is beautiful! ToR+ Sacksit:

Books for kids

As a mom who loves books I have quite the growing library. And I am a firm believer of the quote, Children become readers on the laps of their parents. Therefore it only makes sense that my children, even at their young ages, are readers and admirers of a well crafted book. My oldest (6) likes to grab books off the shelf and look through and piece together words she knows and even, on occasion, has the patience to sound out the harder words and string the sentences together. Her current favorite is Little Women.
So what is the point of all this proud mama talk? Content my friends, content.
I happen to like a bunch of different genres and that goes from YA to classics, General fiction, historical, and chick lit. Do I think that my darling daughter should be sounding out scenes out of A Thousand Splendid Suns? --no, probably not. She is okay in the classics, within reason but I believe in the innocence of childhood so I want to censor her a bit. I don't love middle grade or early readers and don't always have time to pre-read everything before her so I have turned to this fab site: The Literate Mother. They read  books, and post reviews, including spoilers and rate it in language, violence, sexual content and adult themes. Then they give it a one to five rating along with an explanation of why it got that rating. It's a great place. Check it out.
Do you monitor the books your kiddos read or are they free to roam?

No author spotlight today, useful website in it's place. :)

Transcendent Review

So a few writers I adore have put together a compilation of short stories. I really liked that I could read one quickly while the little one napped and another before bed or whenever I had time again. They are all paranormal, which I prefer and throw in a little kissing and romance? I am SO there! Pick up a copy and kick back for a few mins or read through them all in an afternoon. It's a great read. :)

How can you get your hands on this fabulous book? It's simple, follow your favorite link:

· Paperback on Amazon: Coming Soon for $10.99! (When it does the address will be: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0615572324)

· Paperback on Barnes and Noble: Coming Soon!

· eBook on Kindle: Purchase today for $0.99! http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006JV1NM8

    eBook on Nook: Coming Soon!

· Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13096259-transcendent

· Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Transcendent-Tales-of-the-Paranormal/255603224494043

· Book Club Discussion: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/736565-january-transcendent-paranormal-anthology

This is a linky list to the blogs of the authors who contributed to Transcendent.


These are other reviews of Transcendent:


There are big prizes available on Wendy's blog http://wendyswore.blogspot.com

Friday Feature

A set of three for today the first is Fun:


This is One Republic:


And the last is Katy Perry:

Enjoy! :)

As Promised

These are the benches we built to go with the bed I showed earlier.

We got the plans off Ana-white.com and modified them a bit to be longer and we also added the cushion on top. I love them! What do you think? Oh, and ignore the soccer bag and 2x4 under the bed :)

Author Spotlight

Meet Rachel Hawkins.

Author of the wonderful Hex Hall Trilogy. LOVE these books. And I can't wait until the third comes out. The voice grabs you right away. It's hilarious, sarcastic and witty goodness kept me turning pages and staying up to finish. I am looking forward to the next book and have my own suspicions about where it will go but I'm sure it will be delightful no matter. You can read her blog here: http://readingwritingrachel.blogspot.com/
and the amazon page to buy your very own Hex Hall, and you will need the next, Demonglass because you won't be able to wait for shipping twice! Here: http://www.amazon.com/Hex-Hall-Book-Rachel-Hawkins/dp/1423121392/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b 
Go, buy, enjoy! and Happy Tuesday everyone!

p.s. For those who have been waiting, Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare came out today.  :)

Friday Feature

So I am off to Disneyland this morning and I thought I'd post some kiddo friendly, Disney songs.

Author Spotlight

Today we are spotlighting Ally Condie

Author of Matched and the new, Crossed. She also has a bunch of LDS books published as Allyson Braithwaite Condie under Desseret Book.

I adore her characters and how relateable they are, and the pacing is always perfect for me. I prefer to read YA and I really love when an author I like has more books to read while I wait for the next in the series (Fall 2012 in case you were wondering). I can reread and enjoy a writing style that I appreciate. Looking forward to the next in the Matched series, what will happen with Cassia, Ky, and Xander?!

 To read more about Ally and her fabulous books visit her website: http://www.allysoncondie.com/

Friday Feature

This week I have given you a few of my favorites for the Sing Off on NBC Enjoy!

Lets caught up...

 So, many of you entered the giveaway during the blog hop and are waiting patiently for the winner to be announced and others are wondering what happened with the normal posts...Tuesday and Friday at least right? The simple answer is that we were hit with a rather nasty flu bug and I'll spare you the details but none of us wanted to really move, stand, lift arms whatever, during all that so the computer was sadly ignored. I still have an inbox bursting at it's (techy?) seams. Here goes,

The lucky winner is BJ. I'll get that gift card email to you. Happy spending! To everyone else, Thank you for entering and please stop by again and see what's going on. there is always something interesting and often there's a contest/giveaway.

And it is Tuesday so the Author Spotlight is Heather Brewer.

Author of the Vladimir Tod Chronicles and more recently The Slayer Chronicles.

Man, I love these books. Vlad has a excellent sense of humor and a stellar best friend. The books are on the short side but, they are action packed and you will adore the characters by the 2nd page. I think they are good for a reluctant reader male, or female. Check them out!

Book Bomb

Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.
He was wrong.
Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.
Where breaking the rules equals death.

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.

Have you recently thought of purchasing Variant by Robison Wells? If yes, please do it today. If no, then give it a look and buy it today!  :)

Here is the link to get it through Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Variant-Robison-Wells/dp/0062026089/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320951062&sr=1-1

Here is Robison's website: http://www.robisonwells.com/

Blog Hop

Welcome to Procrastination Station! I like to post on various writer things....yes, music, and build-y crafts are writer-ish. They are inspiring and help me find fodder for my stories.  :) I also post on Tuesdays about a author I like and talk sometimes about his or her books.

I am giving away a $20.00 Amazon Gift Card (U.S. only--sorry!)

TO WIN:  You must become a follower of this blog, and leave a comment. Please give your email address so I can notify you if you win  :)

Big thanks to our lovely hosts:
Kathy @

http://www.iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com

Tristi @

http://www.tristipinkston.blogspot.com/

Now off you go! Follow, enter and cross your fingers to win!!  :)

Friday Feature

Yes I usually post on Friday about a band. And give links to awesome music because as a (wanna be) writer I NEED music to write. But I also need visual pretties and inspiration.

This is a site I found via Designmom.com and love it!! It is amazing. A site for artists sponsored by the good folks at Anthropology. It follows several artists through their process of creativity to creation and all the messy great stuff in between. Ooh! I love it so much. So beautiful and inspiring!

May it help you poor NaNoWriMo souls stuck in the realm of just under 6,000 words.  :)

Author Spotlight

Elana Johnson

      Her debut novel Possession is awesome and provides plenty of room for conversation in book groups or if your family is like mine, at the table during Sunday dinner.*HINT: The ending will be talked about! I <3 it though.

      She is the founder of QueryTracker blog, and helps organize the popular WriteOnCon. She is also a teacher in Utah. 

      You can read more about  the book HERE on her Goodreads page and this is the LINK to her personal author page and her BLOG.

Friday Feature

Lindsay Wise

An amazing woman who has a wonderful voice and a beautiful message.  This is her first album called Fancy Free. You will defiantly find a song for you in her collection. Follow the link to find out more information about her and her music.

Her website, it has a link to purchase her music on iTunes:

http://phipper.com/

Enjoy!

My other hobby

I like to build things. Like furniture things so here is a couple pictures of one of our recent projects. We made our bed thanks to Ana White.


Here it is:

What do you think?  We went with the king size farmhouse bed and altered it a tiny bit (we made it a little taller and used a different system to make the underneath-that holds up the mattress). It has a cream paint and brown glaze. Benches for the end of the bed are coming soon!


So what hobbies do you have?

Author Spotlight

Tristi Pinkston

I met Tristi a while back at some writers function or another and we are a part of a couple writing groups together---one is: iWriteNetwork. She is the author of several LDS market books, such as the recently released Hang 'em High, a Secret Sisters Novel. Sh is also a wonderful freelance editor. She has a great blog (links @ the bottom) and organizes sensational blog hops for all interested as well as book reviews for other authors. Passionate about her kids, who she home schools, and the color pick, she is a great writer and a happy, positive person.

                          Her website:

                          http://www.tristipinkston.com/

                          The AMAZING blog:

                          http://tristipinkston.blogspot.com/

Friday Feature

Foster the People

This is a band I can listen to over and over again. Their most popular song is "Pumped up Kicks" and it's great, but so are these:
--Pumped up Kicks:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDTZ7iX4vTQ
---this is just a different version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3evobQo0pc&feature=related
(i love it better in some ways)
--Waste: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq-PlAC5XlA&feature=related


This is the link to their website:
http://www.fosterthepeople.com/us/home

Finding a story

So you want to be a writer? You have an excellent idea and it is going to be an amazing book. GREAT!  You write that but then think, I should write another book....

How do you find something to write about?

Look everywhere. Ideas can come from multiple sources. Friends, news, science, politics, travel, or a twist on a classic---but a big twist, no copy, pasting.

You can grab part of one, say a gene they isolated to cure skin cancer (no not really, I am making this up) but it can have side effects---say, it can make you invisible. How could that work for the army? In the hands of the bad guy? What does the hero need to do to solve the problem? Maybe the hero is invisible himself---one of the first in human testing.

So how easy is it to come up with ideas? It takes practice. You shouldn't hold back yourself if you think you are just being silly or it's too crazy you can always strip away the extra and you might surprise yourself with something really great. Just go with it, brainstorm and write down everything that comes to mind.

Remember it's not only about coming up with great ideas, it's about turning those ideas into stories.  :)

Author Spotlight

Allow me to introduce...
Anna Godbersen

Author of The Luxe series and the new Bright Young Things series this YA author is gaining quite a following and is a New York Times Bestseller. She paints a vivid picture with her words and readers are transported to the time and places in her stories. Check out her website for a great Q&A she has about both herself as well as her characters.  :)

Have you read any of her books? Which ones did you like best?

This is a link to her website: 

http://www.bytseries.com/

And this is her Goodreads page:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/548551.Anna_Godbersen?origin=

Enjoy!

Friday Feature

October blog hop is Yesterday's post--scroll down to enter. REMEMBER: to win you must FOLLOW and COMMENT   :)

Nikki Minaj

Here is the link to the song SUPER BASS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JipHEz53sU&ob=av3n

Here is the cutest cover ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7hTAp6KrGY

This is a video of the little girls meeting Nikki on The Ellen Show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9573kGBtuE&feature=channel_video_title

My 4 yr old loves to sing this song in the car and when we saw the video of the 6 yr old singing we showed it to her and now she wants to watch it all the time.  :)

And before you ask, no. She hasn't seen the real video---no need for her to at her age.  :)

Blog Hop!!!

YEA! It's Blog hop day. How exciting. :) So welcome all you lovely newbies. I hope you take a min to look around, make yourself at home.
 On Tuesdays I do Author Spotlights on um, authors I like, know, admire. Whatever. And on Friday Features I highlight a band or group of musicians and have links to songs I like. I post art, photos, and crafts I like/do. Websites that catch my eye and if I'm really on top of things I share a writerly tidbit I heard or have been working on. In general I post the things I do to procrastinate doing things I don't want to do but should be doing. ie: laundry/dishes.  :)

Prize?? Oh right a PRIZE well, I am giving away:  An Amazon Gift Card  :) (US only)
How to enter: FOLLOW and COMMENT. Tell me why you would like to win this prize
  If your e-mail address isn't visible through your Blogger profile, please also leave it with the comment so I can notify you if you win.  You can enter until midnight MST on Saturday night, October 15th.

Welcome to the October Blog Hop, where you can visit new blogs, enter to win prizes, and have a great time!
October Blog Hop Participants

1. Tristi Pinkston 2. I Am a Reader, Not a Writer 3. Bonnie Harris 4. Michael D. Young 5. Misty Moncur 6. Debbie Davis 7. Mandi Tucker Slack 8. Mary Ann Dennis 9. Deanna Henderson 10. Laura Bastian 11. Kristy Tate

12. Kristy Wilson 13. Jennifer Debenham 14. Jenny Moore 15. Elizabeth Hughes 16. J. Lloyd Morgan 17. Close Encounters with the Night Kind 18. Billy Boulden 19. Scott Bryan 20. Maria Hoagland 21. Shirley Bahlmann 22. Shelly Brown

23. Marcy Howes 24. Lynnea Mortensen 25. Jaclyn M. Hawkes 26. Diane Stringam Tolley 27. Gail Zuniga 28. Betsy Love 29. iWriteNetwork 30. Canda's InkBlast 31. Stacy Coles

Learn more about October Blog Hop here.
View More October Blog Hop Participants
Get The Code

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

Now off you go hopping along to the other delightful blogs in the chain.

Author Feature

I was thinking that I needed to post more often. I am pretty good about posting on Fridays because I just choose a band I like and highlight them so I thought that I would do the same thing with authors. Our first is...

Sophie Kinsella

(AKA Madeleine Wickham)

I love her books. The first book that I read after high school that I choose, just for fun was confessions of a Shopaholic and I laughed all the way through. And I've laughed through many of her other books. The whole Shopaholic series, Can You Keep A Secret, Remember Me?, Twenties Girl. The list goes on and they all have a great flow and witty humor. And many of you may be thinking of the movie that came out a few years ago and no, that's not like the book---are they really ever?--- and you should still read the books. I have read them many times and still enjoy them. But after all, isn't that the hallmark of a great book? When you can read it over and over and still go back again later? I think so.  :)

Here is the link to her website:

http://www.sophiekinsella.co.uk/

And this is her Goodreads page:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6160.Sophie_Kinsella?origin=

Have fun reading!

Blog Hop

Perhaps you've noticed my new button. It's the October Hop hosted by Tristi Pinkston It will be this Thursday-Saturday. So be sure to stop by and check it out. There will be lots of blogs to cruise through and prizes (yea!) to enter to win. :) 

For extra fun, I am also doing the hop in November. The 8th-11th to be exact. So plan to follow along then too. :) So many exciting things going on. Now what to give away......

Friday feature

Taking Back Sunday

Here is the link to their Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/takingbacksunday

I like a bunch of their songs. A few are:

Faith

http://www.youtube.com/user/takingbacksunday#p/c/3861F3D8D992BF26/1/z300zmq1XTo

Sink Into Me

http://www.youtube.com/user/takingbacksunday#p/c/3861F3D8D992BF26/5/ryWV7LsF-ps

A Decade Under the Influence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSex7T-XzxM

Have a listen, have fun  :)

iWN

So some writer friends and I are starting a new group. We wanted something that helps new and experianced writers polish their skills, encourage/support eachother and have a place to talk, and all that so we created iWriteNetwork. And since today is the first day we are sharing with the public we thought we would put together a couple of prizes. You can't enter here but you can if you go HERE. There is a blog you can read through and a NING you can join---very fun--- so hurry hurry, the prizes are great and we have so much more planned in the near future. It will be a blast!  :)

Friday Feature

Skillet

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           I found this band through my sister and I really like them. They have a rock sound but not too screamy or abrasive. I like the combo of boys and girls voices, it reminds me of another band I like: 1997   So I thought I would share some of her favorites--some are my favs too-- as well as the favs of her family.

My sisters favs: Hero: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGcsIdGOuZY

Yours to Hold: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEL7xrDtXic

Kota: Monster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mjlM_RnsVE

Jason--the man who first introduced us all--: The older I Get: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPlSchqOxFg

Whispers in the Dark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6PFAnOYZ-M

And just for link overkill: Lucy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luNVaTcZnZs&feature=related

I hope you check them out. They are a talented group.

 Which song do you like best?

Goodreads

So I have been on Goodreads for a while and have started to rate books I've read and a list of books that I want to read. I tend to read for a month then try and remember what I've read and go rate them all so updates are a bit inconsistent from me but I love the site. I like that they have all the covers of the books and the new ones that are coming out soon and they even have author Q&A every now and then. There are groups you can join and chat together about the lovely books you have read. I am a part of one group and have been enjoying it so I think I'll branch out and try others.

My sister is a voracious reader and has been on Goodreads for a bit longer than me and is a part of numerous book groups on the site. She had a great idea, To make pages for each of my girls and record the books that they read throughout their growing up years. They can chart how many pages they read and turn it into school and how awesome would that be to have this list of the books you read as a kid and what you thought of it at the time. the girls could even write reviews! I think it's an awesome idea, I think I'll get started....

So how do you track your reading? Do you do something (different or the same) to track reading for your kids?

Friday Features

So this week I thought I would feature a bunch of songs that I just like. Some of them I like a bunch of the songs from the group from others this is the only song I have heard. So here goes...

The Main

The song is Right Girl.
Here's the link:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM8DGMh5wK8&ob=av2e






TobyMac

The song is City on Our Knees
Here's the link:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlaKYbG5Bq0








Gin Wigmore

The song is Mr.Freakshow
Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k9ZiPZzO5E&feature=related










That's a smattering of what I'm listening to. What's on your playlist?

Writing, some more.

So I like writing. Not just as in stories and novels, but just generally and with PAPER! :) I like to change my strokes to form the letters differently and to copy the typography of someone else. You know, how their e is loopy or straight the a is type style or with a long curled tail etc...
I also really like hand written letters sent through the mail or hand delivered with salted caramels---yes, I am a wanna-be Martha.

The girlies at home are starting to notice and want to write more as well. They jot little notes on scraps they find, in the notebooks they are given but that is starting to not be enough. They now want the fancy papers like I have. Stationary. So I got on the web and surfed. Here's what I found:

On etsy

It contains:
6 printed cards to colour
6 blank cards
6 sheets of printed writing paper
6 sheets of coloured paper
1 set of 12 coloured pencils
3 mini wooden stamps (designs will vary)
1 sheet of 'stamp' stickers.
Cute? Yes!

And this:

Fill in the blank thank you cards!

Sorry, no picture. The site won't let me. But check them out, they are terribly cute. I think they are just perfect for little hands just starting to write. I like that they encourage thoughtful thank yous after receiving a gift--lost art!

So, what do you do to encourage little kiddos or not so little kiddos to WRITE?

9/11

So here in the U.S. it is the tenth anniversary on the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Virginia and United Airlines Flight 93 which crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. It's a sad day and also a happy one.
 Sad to remember so many people who lost their lives that day, those who lived on with out their loved ones those who were hurt and all the pain, that as a country, we felt. Every one's heart went out to those affected and we grieved as a nation. But happy because we are healing and the new buildings and memorial are in full swing and in some cases complete. The scar will always be there and those who lived though it will always remember and that's a good thing.
 I am proud to live in such an amazing country. I am grateful for the many brave firemen, police, and military men and women we have in this country who choose to serve. God bless them!

Friday Feature

Selena Gomez & The Scene

So as a mom of girls we listen to a lot of pop and since they are still little they like Radio Disney, Disney Channel, Disney stars, Pretty much if the word Disney is there so are they. So this week the feature is Selena Gomez & The Scene.

 Selena is the star of a show called Wizards of Waverly Place. Yup, you guessed it, on the Disney Channel. She plays the snarky-spunky middle child who causes trouble but has a lot of heart.

This is the video for Who Says:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzE1mX4Px0I&feature=relmfu

This is Love You Like A Love Song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgT_us6AsDg&feature=related

She has a bunch of cute dance songs and my girls absolutely adore her, which is fine by me unless she goes the way of Lindsay Lohan and Brittany Spears. :) Check her out.

Motivation

How do you as a writer, dancer, entrepreneur, editor, photographer, etc... stay motivated? What do you think focuses and pushes you though those moments that you want to give up?

Do you go out with encouraging friends?

See a beautiful movie?

Go on a hike?

Visit a museum?

Lets hear those ideas.  :)

Its all in the name...

 I know I have been a lazy blogger lately and have had no interesting and exciting things going on over the last few weeks. Whoever said that the lazy days of summer actually allow you to be lazy was lying! Gearing up for school and getting schedules hammered out takes a lot of time.  :) Hopefully the schedules will hold strong and my little carved out time for writing/blogging will be there more than hit and miss.

So I have been thinking, where do you find time to write? Are you a late night person or and early riser? Do you cut chunks here and there all day, or save it all up for the weekend? Does your writing time fluctuate with the seasons?

Well, I have been reading (Usually VERY late at night with a one year old who is unfortunatly wide awake playing) and I thought I would share,

The first three are all second or third books so if you read them be sure to pick up the first ones and read them, well, first. . . okay. That was probably obvious. . . Well, here we go!

 And this one is one you can read right away. My only thing with it was that it isn't written in first person present like I am used to reading, so my slow brain had a hard time following the conversations at first, but I caught on and loved it!

I also went and saw The Help. Read the book forever ago and loved it--the movie stuck very closely to the story of the book so I was happy with that.  :) Great casting. It was nice to see it played out just like it played in my head while reading it.

So, with all the books to movies that happens, What other books do you think would make a great movie? Or, what book to movie are you most excited to see that it already in the works?

BOOKS

My sister recently started a book blog: Lalasbooks.blogspot.com Go on over and check her out, then follow!

 She reads more books than anyone I know particularly in the paranormal YA section but does read outside that genre on occasion. She reviews books and has a list of her Goodreads 'read' pile listed on the blog so you can peruse through those for some interesting books to put on your 'to-read' list!

Friday Feature

Brand New

Formed in Long Island, New York in 2000 this band of four had released four albums. And currently signed with Interscope records.
Often described as alternative rock, emo, or indie. They truly have their own sound which improves with each album they release.

I love a lot of their songs but here are the youtube links to two of them.
 The first is The Quiet Things No One Ever Knows:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMJIc9USE2U

The second is Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKDc2lkt_mE

This is Brand New's website. It is not finished yet though so check back to see  the finished product including album info and tour dates and places.
http://www.fightoffyourdemons.com/

Friday Feature

Boyce Avenue

Based out of Florida, three brothers started a band in 2004. With strong acoustic capabilities and a rock/ pop sound they took to the air and self produced original and covers for the youtube audience.

I found this band a couple years ago while flipping around on youtube. There was a cover of a song I liked and I thought the singer was amazing so I've followed the band since then.

Well they are now signed, to Universal Republic and have toured through Europe,the Philippines and the USA and released a couple of albums. They have a couple videos on their website and more on youtube. If you haven't already seen/heard this band you are missing out on some really great music.

Touring Australia in late August and the USA/Canada in September and October. You should check out their site, listed below for more details.

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/BoyceAvenue

Official website: http://boyceavenue.com/

What new bands do you like?

Writing Memories

So I love to write. It is definitely one of those things that I can and have spent hours doing. I write stories, short ones, and novel length, fiction and real. Today lets talk about the real ones.

A couple of years ago I started writing my history. Stories of my children's births (PG versions), my gardens, family vacations, memories of my childhood, and all that jazz. I cherish each of these stories. I love that they will live on for my great-great-great grandchildren as they zip around in hover cars and visit the moon, they'll read about our road trip to Cali with a carsick four-year-old.  :)

Why did I start writing these? It all stats with a book, as most great things do, called "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. Read it, I loved it, you will too. (remember Reading Rainbow?)   :) Click here to go to the Goodreads page.

She had this part about being a treasure house of memories and I adore that idea. My idea was to create a mini journal focusing on the little cute and crazy things my kids do and say. I don't want to forget all those little things that really make up our day to day life.

That's just one of the things I do to write in a different way and to stretch myself. Want do you do in writing or memory keeping?

Friday Feature

 Today's spotlight is Merrady.

      
       A friend of mine who has an amazing voice. She is currently located in Long Beach so if  you live around there go see her live at Que Sera. You will love it. She has a smokey-smooth glam, folk sound.
       You can find more information about her music on facebook here and her website here. But this is the link to her youtube stuff:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=merrady&aq=f

I personally like her song "Waves."

So go on, check her out.  :)

Obsessed

So I am way behind on this one, but have you heard of the website Pinterest?
     Well I discovered it about a month ago and I think it's safe to say I am obsessed. I love to look through the pictures and click through the links. There is so much out there that I don't have time to find for myself, and someone else finding it for me is beautiful. Okay most of it I wasn't actually looking for, but now that I know it's out there. . .
So what is Pinterest? On the site it says "A place to catalogue the things you love." And I'll tell you, there are a lot of things people love. You can spend hours on there, if you aren't careful. My favorite tabs are Art + Architecture, Travel, Food + Drink, Design, and Home + Furniture. That sounds like a lot but there are plenty of other categories. Here are some of the things/ ideas I get from scrolling those pages:

Bacon cup salad. How have I never thought of this? Brilliant!   :)

Old door turned into a headboard. This may be child 2's headboard soon. What a great idea.

I love quotes. A lot. This one is so sweet.

This is a easy sew dress. I followed the link and learned how to make it. But that's a post for another day.

Inspiration for the garden. Wouldn't a path like that be lovely?

And Last:

An easy craft to do with the kiddos, and look at that. It's a book mark! ooh, let's go read. :)

FYI: there are sometimes risque pics posted on the site, be aware.

Could I have lived without Pinterest? Yes. But I love all the ideas it's given me. I have folders of places my characters should go, photos of what they might look like. Things that I can do and places I want to see with my family. Lesser known waterfalls to hike to, and food to try out.  I like trying new things and this is just one way to learn what's out there.
So, what sites do you like? What makes you want to go back and see what's new?

Critiques

So for an online critique group I am part of, we have to submit our next pages today. I thought I would go over how I critique, as there are differing views on the subject. I'm pulling these guidelines from a conference I went to and feel like they sum it all up nicely, so here goes. . .

First: The purpose is to share encouragement, insight and useful suggestions. To improve our understanding of the writing process--and to improve our finished work. Specifically, a critique session might help the author see how future reader might 'see' the story/characters. The goal of a critique session IS NOT to criticize or belittle another person's work or them as a person.

To the Author:  You are the final authority on your story. The critiques are suggestions that you can incorporate or ignore as you see best. Writing is HIGHLY subjective, if someone doesn't like your work it doesn't mean everyone will feel the same way. Do not argue with the person giving a critique, you asked for their opinion.

To the Critiquers: Begin with praise. Helps soften the blows.  :) Start sentences with I. . ."I was unclear about... Encourage the writer, like: "I really like the setting, I would like to hear more about it." Remember that any comments you write are taken seriously, so be careful, thoughtful, and kind. Balance your remarks, tell what worked and you liked as well as the places that need work and bothers you. Fell free to line edit, but make the marks clear enough to be noticed by the author.


How do you critique? How much of others comments do you incorporate? Do you write a first draft then critique or wait until you have revised over and over before letting others review it? I would love to hear other's processes.

Happy writing!!

Last WINNER!

So the winner of Wolves, Boys,and Other Things That Might Kill Me is. . .

Marenda!

Congrats to you, contact me to claim your prize.

Thanks to everyone who played along in June. Come back by, there will be other contests and lots of fun/interesting things to see, hear, love, try at home, etc. . .

As always check out Candamortensen.blogspot.com she's got some great things going on over there  :) 

WINNER!

The winner of Wings is. . .

LIZ!

Congratulations.

 Please email me at deanna-henderson@hotmail.com to

claim your prize, and let me know where I should send it.

**Remember** You MUST be a follower of this blog to win.

Check back to see if you won another book and for all the fun things going on this summer :)

And then hop over to candamortensen.blogspot.com for even more great ideas and fun.