BackChannel Tweet Up

I'm new to Twitter. For the longest time I refused to acknowledge that it even existed. (Just like I refused to join Facebook) Due to some urging of friends I've finally joined the dark side and it's been a ton of fun. Every time I get a new follower I want to do the happy dance. <--- scary thought. I've met a bunch of really interesting and diverse people, as well as the news cast on WXYZ, at the #Backchannel event last night. I thought it was great that they had this bit about it on the news:

When he's interviewing Howard Collens I'm standing at the next table to the right. Watched the whole thing, which was super fun.

Inspiring - World Clothes Line

Yesterday I had the great opportunity to meet two truly inspiring people at a #Backchannel event, Mallory and Anne of World Clothes Line. Mallory Brown is the founder of the company that for every item you buy one is donated to the country the line is dedicated to (United States, Peru, and Indonesia). You buy a sweatshirt; one is donated to the poor in Peru. How amazing is that?

I have been looking all over the website reading the stories and looking at pictures and the more I learn the more I’m amazed. They love what they do, are a ton of fun to hang out with, and want to make a difference in the world. With the holiday season quickly approaching remember that it’s not about the getting it’s about the giving. Let’s clothe the world!

What-up Etsy? It's been a while

Well, hello friends!

I’ve had an Etsy store for a few years now. I was really active in it for a while and slowly lost interest. It’s been inactive for over a year now. There was just too much information, listings, stuff to get through to even find my tiny little store. I became disillusioned. Funny thing was, I realized, it wasn’t Etsy’s fault. I was not putting in the time or effort necessary to make it a success.

There’s a big movement out there to by handmade, up-cycle, and make things with your hands and I LOVE it!!! I’m crafty but I tend to forget that in order to make something successful you have to work at it. I’m so forgetful! I’m revising my outlook and redefining success. It’s not about making money (that’s just a happy side effect. Don’t look at me like that, I was unemployed for a year and live in Michigan!) It’s about being crafty! It’s about doing something that makes me happy, something that I can share with my boys. So I’ll probably expand my store offerings, maybe revamp the whole thing but I’ll be there again. Drop by and check it out! Senza Rotture. (There is also a nifty button on the right ---> see it?) Let me know what you think. I’m always looking for new ideas, constructive criticism, and helpful suggestions.

Labor Daze (Part 2)

My sister's family came to town for Labor Day weekend and brought a bunch of goodies for a tresure hunt. So we made a bunch of clues and hid them around the yard and the kiddies were off!

Of course the treasure was located in the castle :)

It was a beautiful day in Michigan so we headed to the park after playing we took to the nature trail.

Labor Daze (Part 1)

I realize that this post is a bit late, but better late than never. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm never on time. Ever.

Jamie found the mustaches that we made for Con's birthday a few years back. It was kind funny that he was so excited to play with them since he helped make them.

Here are a few Jamie-isms:

Grandma: "Don't bother the cat."
Jamie: "...or she will piss at me?" (He meant hiss)
Later that day while starting a movie...
Jamie: "Look grandma! It's Godzilla the Elbow, it's Godzillia the Elbow!!!" (He meant album)

I know you can't see his face but I love this picture! Little boy toes!

Just a little backyard magic.

Tent Time

I got it in my head that this summer I wanted to make a tent to play in. Nothing expesnive or time consuming. That in mind I headed to our local Salvation Army and bought a bunch of sheets (3 I think). I brought my purchases home, grabbed some wood planks we had in the basement (?), and twined them together with a bungie cord. Not very elegant but the boys and I had a blast!

Love Jamie's face! Ha!

Connor then wanted a fort so I fugured why not?

Jamisaurs Rex

Jamie wanted me to put hair ties in his hair so he could be a dinosaur. How could I say no?

National Novel Writing Month NaNoWriMo!!!

It's that time of year again! The time of year for literary abandon, for the whole month of November you try to write a 50,000 word novel.

Oh yeah, talk about a challenge. Now cram in time with the family, Thanksgiving, and holiday shopping and you begin to see the mounting obstacles. But who cares?! The fun is in the challenge! I can't believe how excited I am by this as I've never finished. Ever!

Last year I was unemployed and since I had nothing to put off to work on my novel I got all of 2,000 words written. Yes, that statement is illogical, it would makes more since if having no job I finished a novel, but I never claimed to be logical. The year before (my first year) I made it to 30,000 words. This year I have experience, a job, and the fact that I have to have a novel written before I'm thirty (4 month away) looming over my head. This is the year that I get it done!

Join in the craziness here. Adopt a plot, talk about how your character hijacked your storyline, and read the wacky ways other authors deal with life on a deadline.

***Update***

I just received an email from one of my all time FAVORITE Authors, Mercedes Lackey!!! Look what showed up in my email this morning.

Yes, it was a mass email but ask me if i care? NO!!! Not even a little!!! She's been one of my literary hero's for ever! So excited!!!