Blog Awards and Randomness

This week has been a little off regarding my post schedule and I apologize for that. I have been unfortunate enough to be fighting the flu this week, which has in turn put me behind on a couple projects I'm working on. I'm just trying to get caught up while lingering flu bugs make me tired and grumpy.

However, I have been nominated for two blog awards, both from Tena Carr over at Jottings and Writings. She has nominated me for both the Liebster and Addictive Blog awards. I am very thankful and grateful for them. However, I'm going to break the rules a little bit and only focus on one. I know, I'm very sorry, I wish I had more time and energy for both.

The rules for the Addictive Blog Award:

Thank the person awarding you; Share a little about why you blog and how the journey started; Paste the blog award on your page; Nominate 10 other bloggers you feel deserve the award.

So, thank you again, Tena, for the award. This is one I haven't received that I've secretly coveted, so I'm super appreciative of it.

I started blogging last year (yes, I skipped announcing my blog-o-versary) because I started getting serious about writing. I was stuck, knowing I needed to improve, but not knowing how. So, I got involved with the fine people over at G+ and started a blog as a way to connect to other writers and even readers.

I keep going because I really enjoy it. I've met some wonderful people through blogging and have been able to join in a lot of fun projects. I can't say I have it 100% figured out yet, I have a feeling I'll always be figuring that out, but that's okay. I blog to learn, I blog for fun and for sharing and to meet people trying to do similar things.

So, here are some of the people I've met. I'm nominating:

Randy Lindsay @ Author in Training
Scott Taylor @ Scotty Watty Doodle All The Day
Nicole Pyles @ World of My Imagination - though Tena nominated you, too, so feel free to combine them. ;)
Anne @ A Writer's Space
Leanne Sype @ Writings and Ruminations - though Tena nominated, you, as well, so .... ;)
My Unpublished Life
L.T. Dalin (formerly Chessny Silth)

I had a few others in mind, but come to find out they don't actually blog, they read and comment. :) That put a smile on my face.

Well, that's going to leave me with seven, but they're all solid. Thank you again, Tena and thank you to everyone who stops by even in my unorganized, random moments.  <3

Snapshot Prompt

Tena over at Jottings and Writings has put together a special prompt for us today in honor of Veteran's Day. Happy Inpsiration! Don't forget to link up to be entered in this month's Ad Contest. :)

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With Veterans Day being just behind us I have a very special picture I want to use. Don't know where it originated from, but I found it on the Soldiers Angels website (or maybe it was their facebook page) not too long ago.

 

Before I go any further October's (I believe I have the right month) WWBH Monthly Ad Contest winner is: Writer's Space

And of course we have last weeks WWBH entries:

1.	Carrie @ Chasing Revery	3.	Melissa @ My Unpublished Life
2.	Leanne	4.	The Courage Of The Queen by Scott Taylor

Okay so now that I've kept you in suspense - The Five Words are:

1. Peaked
2. Geothermal
3. Livestock
4. Mutual
5. Hydroelectric

And Of course I can't forget the rules:

1) There will be one photo, and five words - both of those elements must be a feature in the brief story you create.
2) There is also a 500 word maximum.
3) You have until next Wednesday to create your post.
4) Link your story below and let your blog host know in the comments that you have done so! (This helps make sure we don't lose your link.)
And Most Importantly
5) We were going to tell you to not take this too seriously, but reconsidered it because we know full well that asking writers to write something means that they will take it seriously. So, take it seriously, but don't fret/panic/pass out/hyperventilate/lose sleep/run in fear over it.

Ohhh yeah and don't forget to link up below:

Toddler Tales: Playing in the Closet

Because of early swim lessons on Saturday, my nephew stays the night on Friday. This past Friday I heard them playing in  the bathroom.

Daemon: "Tell me you need more cotton balls."

Joshua: "More cotton balls."

Daemon: "Say you need more towels."

Joshua: "More towels, please."

At this point I was terrified the contents of my closet were all over the floor. I peeked in to see the boys jammed in the closet, reaching up on the shelves and pretending to restock them.

It always amazes me, the imagination of kids and what they think is fun. My nephew is always coming up with games and honestly has one of the best imaginations of kids his age that I've seen. If Joshua is going to learn from anyone how to play pretend, this is the kid to teach him.

Family Fun: Swimming Class

Since Joshua turned three, I've been interested in getting him active and in activities where there would be other kids. First kids might as well be only children, and I'm very adamant he is well socialized.

So, it was swimming locally during the summer, then soccer in the fall. We turned to the Y for a winter idea and found swimming again. It fit into our schedule, was held on Saturdays so Kris could participate, and is an indoor pool where the one in town isn't. My sister was able to sign up my four year old nephew, so he comes with us as well.

The biggest plus? They had a class for Sebastian's age, too. Kris is the lucky one that gets to be down in the pool with Sebastian, then watching the boys. I keep myself up in the observation room with whichever kid(s) aren't swimming.

Because of that, I wasn't able to get the best of photos and they are only of Sebastian's class. As his class is first, I quickly learned photo taking wasn't going to work with the faster moving, bigger boys. They are, however, still pretty cute.

                 

Snapshot Reveal: Oh Brother

Here's this week's snapshot story. :) Check out the prompt and link yours up with mine. You can win an add spot for your blog, social network site, etsy account, or whatever other internet-based awesome you have. :)

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Oh Brother

"Did you know you have an action figure stuck to your keys?" Allie sat in the passenger seat looking toward the steering wheel with a crooked smile. The car was a hand-me-down, so old it didn't even have a screen in the dash for the radio, just some weird dial thing. It ran, though, and right now, that's all that mattered.

Dee felt the keys where they were hanging from the ignition. Her head fell against the head rest and she groaned.

"It must be Dylan's. How the heck did that get in my key ring?"

"It looks like it hitched a ride. It's arm is stuck through the smallest one. Maybe he has a friend to rescue, or something, like in that movie."

"Or maybe he's a parasite." Dee's frown twitched up. Her little brother was ten years younger than her, completely annoying and so very cute. He had probably put the little green guy on her keys to keep her company, or to protect her, to give her courage or for some other silly reason.

"At least he'll come off. Not like that lollipop Dylan stuck to your backpack a few weeks ago."

"You mean the one made out of tar?" Of course, the sucker was just sugar, but the way it had melted into her zipper, it might as well have been fusion glue. When she'd asked Dylan about it, he'd said he had wanted to make sure she had a yummy snack for lunch. How could she get mad at that?

Dee pulled into the school parking lot and picked the first spot she saw. She took out the keys to see exactly what her little brother had sent with her today.

"Haha. At least he's a cute tag along." Allie grabbed the bag at her feet and got out. "Don't worry, Dee. There are worse little brothers. Stash that guy in the glove compartment for right now."

"Hmph." Dee watched Allie shut the door, then head inside. She studied the figurine, saw how his arm had been slipped into the smallest key ring. She shook her head, a grin on her lips. Dropping her keys, figure and all, into her bag, Dee got out of the car and headed in.

"Worse little brothers, for sure," she mumbled to herself. Of course there were worse little brothers because none of them were better than Dylan.

Snapshot Prompt and Contest Winner

Hey, November! I love this time of year - well, I hate the weather, but I love the holiday season. I'm one of those strange people who would put up my Christmas Tree  RIGHT NOW  if my husband would let me get away with it.

Since I can't, on to the next best thing. I get to announce the winner of the Monthly Ad Contest.

Congratuations Anne @ Writer's Space!

Thank you to everyone who participated, and good luck to everyone this next go around. I will post the new button up on my side bar next week.

Last weeks story submissions included:

Fragile Winnings by L.T. Dalin
The Ranch House by Scott Taylor
Hovel Memories by Tena Carr
Eyes of the Beholder by Carrie Sorensen

On to this week's prompt. Remember:

1) There will be one photo, and five words - both of those elements must be a feature in the brief story you create.

2) There is also a 500 word maximum.

3) You have until next Wednesday to create your post.

4) Link your story below and let your blog host know in the comments that you have done so! (This helps make sure we don't lose your link.)

5) We were going to tell you to not take this too seriously, but reconsidered it because we know full well that asking writers to write something means that they will take it seriously. So, take it seriously, but don't fret/panic/pass out/hyperventilate/lose sleep/run in fear over it.

Your Photo:

Your Words:

tar

lollipop

courage

figure

parasite

And please don't forget to grab a button to pretty up your page and share the Blog Hop Love. :)

Click and copy this code

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Toddler Tales: Reading Fun

I thought I would let Joshua tell you today's story. :)






The author's goodread's profile: Mary Murphy

Is Linky Eating Your Links?

I have a sneaking suspicion there are more Snapshot stories out there than are linked - I swear I saw some in my Reader feed that are not in the linky. Please get your stories linked up, or if Linky is eating them, please re-add your link in my comments section so I can include you in the ad contest draw. You have until 8pm tomorrow (Tuesday).

Link up on the Snapshot Prompt post.

The Collaboration Challenge finale has been delayed a few days. Once it's posted over at Confessions of a Pixel and Ink-stained Wretch, I'll get the link up over here. :)

Family Fun: Halloween

If you have me circled on G+, or are a friend on Facebook, you may have already seen this photo of me and my Trick Or Treat Gang.

Joshua's the blurred boy (you may have seen his costume in my zoo post). The mouse is Joshua's girlfriend (well, best friend who is a girl). The vampire is and the lizard-thing are my nephews. The girl hiding her face is my niece, and it's a shame you couldn't see her make up. She was dolled up to be a doll, but her dress hadn't arrived yet, so she was upset. Thankfully, it came later and she was still able to go candy hunting.

And yes. I am Super Girl. Because she's amazing, and so am I. ;-)

We had lots of fun, walking the neighborhood, then we had a last minute mini-party at my house for the kids since the weather wasn't great while the grown-ups warmed up and had some food. All planned hours before it happened. Kris and I are exhausted. Apparently, so is Joshua. Yesterday, his nap was more than 2 hours long. Yipes.

How did your Halloween go? If you have picks of your party or Trick Or Treat Gang up on your blog, post me a link in the comments.

Snapshot Reveal - And 5K Views!

OMG, I just hit 5K views on my blog!!! :D Thank you, everyone - I appreciate the love.


I have a Snapshot Reveal for you today. The prompt post went up yesterday, so check it out and don't forget to link up your story over there. Do it by 8pm next Tuesday to be entered into our Monthly Ad Contest.

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Eyes of the Beholder

Nan decorated the hovel with years worth of needlepoint designs. The floors were wood so worn there were holes in some places. The kitchen held only a sink and a fridge, a wobbly table was both prep space and eating space that looked over a grass field. Nan had one bed against the wall, as close to the wood burning stove as I could put it safely. I slept on the floor, as close to that same stove as I could get, looking out the one window in the kitchen every night, staring at the moonrise.

The stitched fabric of her art helped insulate the thin walls of the small home and added comfort and warmth. She said stitching helped the autonomic dysfunction of her digestive system. I just nodded, sitting on the threadbare rug at the foot of her rocking chair, tending to the stove.

I wasn't sure Nan was all there. Though her eyes were sharp, they were always focused on her needle and thread, the only brightness in a body gone lax and gray. But she was all I had, and I was all she had.

Every day I had to leave her, I hated it. I had tried to skip school, but the state caught up with me quickly. It was go to school, or Nan went to jail. Nan told me I had to go anyway, that I had to learn to get a good job. She scoffed every time I brought home a lottery ticket, telling me that jackpot was out of reach, but I could work my way up in the world if I tried hard enough.

I thought it was stupid. School was stupid. The cops were stupid. But I did what I had to to keep her safe. And one day, one day I would win the lottery - or she would, since I wasn't 18 yet - and we would get a real house, and I could pay someone to watch her whenever I had to leave, and we would be happy.

"I am happy," she said, her bright eyes sparkling from her pale face. "I've got my home, my thread, and a grandson who loves me too much."

"Never too much, Nan." Her smile would get bigger and she would nod.

"See, child? We are already rich." I smiled back, lottery ticket crinkling in my pocket.