Enough

I am very relaxed right now and thought of this quote. It is so true and I believe taking time for ourselves is so important! Know that all you do and who you are is valuable and let that knowledge be wnough! Have a great weekend everyone!

Homemade Chef's salad

This salad that we had for lunch today was so delicious! 

Wordless Wednesday: Santa Barbara, Ca.

Teaser Tuesday: The Final Cut (2)

Teaser Tuesday is newly hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 198 of The Final Cut by Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison:

He closed the book and she saw the title. She didn't realize the significance until much, much later. He was reading Invisible Man.

Lovely Spring

I took this picture at the park today. To me it perfectly illustrates how lovely Spring truly is! Of course, it is super windy here right now and all of our allergies are acting up like crazy. Still, it's such a beautiful season!

Take the Risk

I love this quote and believe it to be absolutely TRUE! I attended the California Dreamin' Writers Conference this weekend and it was amazing! Robyn Carr and Sarah MacLean were the Keynote speakers and both had wonderful and inspirational things to say about this writing life! The crux of both of their speeches was to WRITE! What a surprise, right? It was nice - and well-timed - to hear it, though. Another thing I took away from this weekend was a reminder to stay true to myself, my writing style and what I want to write!

I have been told a couple of times recently, "You can't write that. No one will want to read that." It was discouraging, to say the least. I was reminded during Sarah MacLean's speech today to "Take the Risk!" So I'm going to do just that - Take the risk! I'm excited, nervous and hopeful!

Epiphany

I've had a major epiphany about my writing and where I want to go with it! I've been so stressed out about it - well, for a while now - to the point that it hasn't been something I enjoy anymore! I've been trying to stay within others' parameters and that hasn't worked for me. I'm going back to writing what I love for the pure and simple fact that I love it! My hope is that this will bring me back to my joy in writing! 

Night One

Tonight was great fun and informative! Now I need to get some sleep because tomorrow is going to be a long day!

Writers Conferences

A writers conference is something I used to want to give a try. Now that I've been to two I know that I LOVE them! I will be going to my third one this weekend! Two years ago I went to the California Dreamin' Writers Conference for the first time and fell in love with the event! It was so nice and truly amazing to be surrounded by people - mostly women but some men, as well - on the same journey as me. We're all at different places in our career but the end goal is to be a published author and that camaraderie felt - and still feels - AMAZING!

Last summer I went to my first national conference for the Romance Writers of America. THis is an annual event and at some point I'd love to go every year. Hopefully that will happen before too much longer. However, I can't make the national RWA conference this year so I will go to California Dreamin' Writers Conference once again this weekend. The keynote speakers are Robyn Carr and Sarah MacLean. I'm looking forward to hearing both of them.

There are also several workshops I am looking forward to. Such as, Self-Editing: Ten Tips to Make Your Words Pop, Working Past the Fear, Writing the Romance Novella, Mastering the Art of Great Conflict and Pros in Your Prose t name a few!

I am looking forward to a great weekend with writer friends, possible new friends to be made and a lot of learning about this writers life that I love!

Wordless Wednesday: Sunny Log Cabin square number one

Teaser Tuesday: The Final Cut by Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison

Teaser Tuesday is newly hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 119 of The Final Cut by Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison:

"Nicholas and I need to get up to the exhibit room before the crowds are allowed up. Two of our top techs are there with Dr. Browning , collecting evidence. I'm hoping our forensic team has turned up something concrete."

Happy Spring

It's a wonderful and beautiful time of year and I am happy that Spring is here! Although, I must admit, it doesn't exactly feel like spring here today. it's a bit chilly and the sun has been going in and out all day. Last wek felt like summer with our temperatures in the high 80's and low 90's. Tomorrow we're expecting rain. LOL Goofy weather, I tell ya! 

A Brit in the FBI

I love discovering a new series of books! I love it even more when I actually like teh first book in the series and want to continue on with said series. I am currently reading The Final Cut by Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison. It is a really enjoyable book so far. It is the first of four books at this point and I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of them!

Beauty and the Beast

My kids and I have been excited about the remake of Beauty and the Beast since we first learned about it. We all went to see it and I think Emma Watson and Dan Stevens did an amazing job in their respective parts as Belle and the Beast. I love how strong Belle is in this making of the movie! There's a point in the movie where she proclaims, "I'm not a princess." I have daughters and I want them to be strong, independent women. I actually LIKE that they're portraying Belle as a strong woman and not a princess! Anyway, we highly recommend Beauty and the Beast!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Have a wonderful, fun and safe day everyone!

A rollercoaster day

Wordless Wednesday: Last Night's sunset

Teaser Tuesday: The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan

Teaser Tuesday is newly hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from page 3 of The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan:

"Just because the men have gone to war, why do we have to close the choir? And precisely at a time when we need it most! I mean, what'll be disabled next? His beloved bell ringers? Church on Sundays? Christmas? I expect not!" 

Doctor Who series 10 trailer

I had an entirely different post in mind but then I came across this Doctor Who trailer. Besides the fact that it looks EPIC - I need to have this so I can show it to my kids. They LOVE Doctor Who but my oldest is especially enamored with this show! I have to admit I am, too!

The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan

"Through letters and journals, The Chilbury Ladies' Choir unfolds the struggles, affairs, deceptions and triumphs of a village choir during World War II."

"Just because the men have gone to war, why do we have to close the choir? And precisely when we need it most!" 

As England enters World War II's dark early days, spirited music professor Primrose Trent, recently arrived to the village of Chilbury, emboldens the women of the town to defy the Vicar's stuffy edict to shutter the church's choir in the absence of men and instead 'carry on singing'. Resurrecting themselves as "The Chilbury Ladies' Choir", the women of this small village soon use their joint song to lift up themselves, and the community, as the war tears through their lives. 

Told through letters and journals, The Chilbury Ladies' Choir moves seamlessly from budding romances to village intrigues to heartbreaking matters of life and death. As we come to know the struggles of the charismatic members of this unforgettable outfit -- a timid widow worried over her son at the front; the town beauty drawn to a rakish artist; her younger sister nursing an impossible crush and dabbling in politics she doesn't understand; a young Jewish refugee hiding secrets about her family, and a conniving midwife plotting to outrun her seedy past -- we come to see how the strength each finds in the choir's collective voice reverberates in her individual life. 

In turns funny, charming and heart-wrenching, this lovingly executed ensemble novel will charm and inspire, illuminating the true spirit of the women on the home front, in a village of indomitable spirit, at the dawn of a most terrible conflict.

I LOVE historical fiction and am often drawn to books set during WW2. I've only just begun this book and like it already!

Love crochet

Corner to Corner afghan

I made this corner to corner (c2c) afghan for a friend and her husband. They love it. My kids love it (and wanted to keep it themselves) and I love it! It's so warm and soft and squishy. I also think it came out very elegant in this ivory tweed. 

Happy Birthday darling!

To the best nieces and nephews ever! Happy Birthday to my smart, talented and beautiful niece!

Wordless Wednesday: Ingenious Women

Happy International Women's Day!

Teaser Tuesday: Untraceable by Laura Griffin

Teaser Tuesday is newly hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read 

- Open to a random page 

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page 

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser. 

My teaser this week is from Nook page 24 of Untraceable by Laura Griffin:

Law enforcement was a fraternity, and Alex was well aware that she'd never gain access to the club. She operated on the fringes, but she liked it that way. More flexibility. More room to bend the rules. 

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.

Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations. 

I love this book so much! It made me laugh, cry and sigh a number of times. It came highly recommended and lived up to its hype. I will warn anyone who reads it to have a box of Kleenex handy, though. This book seriously tugs at the emotions.

THis book is a 5 Star read for me!

95.5 KLOS The Sessions talks Duran Duran's Rio

There's a radio station where I live in Southern California called KLOS 95.5. They do a show called The Sessions. They are currently talking about the greatness of the Duran Duran song that is Rio. If they release the discussion (which is a dissection of the brilliance of this song!) I will add that, too. In the meantime, here's the oh-so-fun video! Enjoy!

The fountain at the library

There's a fountain at the library near where my mother-in-law used to live. I used to frequent this library with my kids when they were littler. They used to love to toss coins in the fountain and make wishes. I enjoyed doing the same with them. Earlier this week we were in the area and my kids wanted to stop there. We made a wish and enjoyed the peacefulness of the fountain for a little bit. It was really nice and a bit nostalgic. 

Writing Mojo

I am so, so happy to say that I am back to what I perceive to a normal level of writing! I went through a couple of months where I wrote but it felt like a bit of a struggle. To be completely honest it was depressing! However, this week has gone really well and I am SO relieved! I am thoroughly enjoying the story I am currently writing, as well.

Of course I do still have some revision work to complete. Even that is coming along nicely, though. I'm going to a presentation on editing this weekend, too. Hopefully I'll learn some good tips to apply to my revision.

So all in all, I'm happy my writing mojo has returned!

World Book Day

It's World Book Day and I'm still reading this book here. I like it and am enjoying it but it's taking me some time to get through it because there has been SO much going on. I'm hoping to finish it up within the next couple of days, though. In fact, I may have no choice but to hurry up and finish it because it's a library book. 

What are you reading right now?

My kids are reading Nancy Drew and Harry Potter - both great choices in my opinion!

Wordless Wednesday: Espresso and coconut milk

YUM!