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/