Nook book sale!

Last weekend Barnes & Noble (oh how I love thee) had a 50 percent off sale of New York Times Bestsellers. Shabang! I sat and perused each book hoping there might be some that I've been wanting to buy, but didn't want to spend $7 or more.

I do realize a lot of these books are normally at libraries. But, to be blunt, the libraries in my parish suck. I'm not sure why the selections, especially of e-books are so pathetic. It is what it is, so I usually wait for months for books to drop prices.

So ta da....I present the "New York Times Best Seller books I bought for half price" list:

Wake - Amanda Hocking

Source: Barnes & Noble

Girl meets a trio of sisters who ask her to join their group. Girl ends up with a lot of superpowers. (I'm sure there is more to this story, but the synopsis is a bit vague). I enjoyed Amanda's Trylle series, so I figured I'd like this one also.

Etiquette & Espionage - Gail Carriger

Source: Barnes & Noble

I am not sure if I'll like this book. It's about a girl who is sent to "finishing school" which turns out to be an espionage school. I actually love that premise, but it's considered "steampunk". This is a new genre for me. It apparently involves a lot of machinery in the plot...

Cinder - Marissa Meyer

Source: Barnes & Noble

This is a futuristic retelling of Cinderella. I know I will like this one a lot. Cinder is a cyborg...oh the possibilities.

Scarlet - Marissa Meyer

Source: Barnes and Noble

This is the sequel to Cinder so it was shocking I was able to get it for half off. Scarlett is a retelling of a futuristic Little Red Riding Hood.

 Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi

Source: Barnes and Noble

Girl can kill with her touch. She is locked away for over 200 days because her touch can kill in a dystopian world.

These are all young adult books. Back in the day when I was a small lassie, young adult books were along the lines of Judy Blume. I love Judy Blume, but I'm not one who wants to read about serious issues all the time. I do sometimes, but I like the young adult genre for the possibilities.

Sure, there are books about teen suicide, divorced parents, drug use, anorexia...but there is also the other world out there. One that is new, but with it's own set of challenges, like the cyborgs, the girls who can kill with a touch. The material does not seem as heavy to me.

Do you get most of your books at the library? Have you ventured into the young adult genre?

Scrivener...so far

Back in December I started my first manuscript. After a lot of outlining, I realized it unintentionally was too similar a story to True Blood. No vampires though!!! I set aside that manuscript for now. I recently started a new plot and outline.

A couple of years ago I tried to "pants" it. In writer's terms that means write by the seat of your pants. No outlining for the most part, just write, write, write. It was a fail.

So I decided in December to go the outline route. This has been....gahhhh.... like pulling teeth. Running is just like writing a novel. Not everybody can or WANTS to stick to this commitment.

But here I am with this new plot and I've started the outline. One good thing that came out of the December plot was I learned outlining in Word does work, but it's tough to do. So I bought Scrivener.

Source: Scrivener

Again, something that does work, but it's tough to do.

A lot of published and unpublished authors swear by this program. I thought, hey, if it makes it easier for me to get this book completed, I'm all for it.

The problem with Scrivener is the options are endless. Getting to those options takes time and research. Some things like changing the default font is nowhere to be found in the tutorial. That requires internet research. In other words, figuring out this program is a long process AND takes away from your actual writing.

BUT so far, I really like it. I've only cut the surface of what I can do. But I've set up the folders I need for each outline step. I've also somewhat figured out the corkboard, which allows you to shuffle index cards on the screen. I've started my character outlines as well.

I think once I've learned more, I'll be doubly more excited. One day my screen will look like this (hopefully). Look at all those glorious index cards to the left - that's the corkboard.

Source: Scrivener

The corkboard option also allows you to drop images into the board. This has been OUTSTANDING for me because I have been able to upload mugs of actors who I picture to be my characters, hair, dresses and locations of certain scenes I want to map out.

I just learned you can also give yourself a word count goal for each day. I haven't started this yet, since I'm still outlining, but when I'm ready for the official "first draft", I'll have my timer!

I haven't been paid or even asked to do a review. I'm just discussing this program because I've found it really useful. As I get further along, I'll be sure to update my progress.

I'll do a post later about this, but the outline I'm following is the Snowflake Method. This has been the PERFECT outline since I appear to need every single detail planned ahead of the first draft.

Have you ever used a word processing program? Are you writing a book?

Clearing the path of clutter

Clutter. It's just everywhere. Right now my desk at work is cluttered. My cars are cluttered. My bills are cluttered. My house....yep, cluttered. These all make my brain very cluttered as well.

Just to update you over the month of April: I've taken a long workout hiatus, and who knows, it could go on longer depending on the sassy, yet adorable, just-turned-3-year-old diva living in our house.

I have, however, made a good deal of progress on writing my young adult book. Woot! I'm using a fabulous word processing program. My outline is coming along really well. I've had to sacrifice a lot of reading, tv, social media and gahhhh Candy Crush Saga time, but it's worth it!

But I can no longer handle the interior of my house. You may remember, I'm following Flylady's techniques, which are awesome. I have gotten into the habit of doing one load of laundry and one load of dishes each day - this is REALLY key to starting to get your house in order.

But, thanks to the fabulous blogger Julie I've found a program that I think can help me handle the rest of the chaos.

Julie mentioned she is following the Home Storage Solutions 101 program to get her house organized. I started checking out some of the plans and yes, I think this will work well for me.

I considered taking some before and after pics for posts that involve my decluttering goals, but I have to admit, I'd be too embarrassed of the before photos.

The program actually starts in January, but you can follow it at any time of the year. I'm going to go back to January though because the first month's area is ... the kitchen.

There are printable calendars that give you a small goal for each day. I figure any progress is good progress.

Do you use any organizational/cleaning plans? For those with kids, what do you use to store toys? We have a serious, trip-hazard toy problem in our house.

It's time to get back to it

I tried to come up with a snazzy, innovative line about spring and well, I'm stumped. It's time for spring! Let's leave it at that. Spring brings pollen, bees, love bugs...but it also brings a chance for fresh starts.

I will get my fresh start Monday. I have a few goals that I want to accomplish. Remember New Year's Resolutions...yeah...how's that going for ya? But it's never too late to try! (PS: starting Monday because I'm going to be out of town part of this weekend).

My main goals for spring will be to get back to 'training' and make some progress on the book I'm writing.

But, right now I'm still working on the outline. I'm doing a loose, I mean very loose, version of the NaNoWriMo Camp. The challenge there is to write as much as you want in a month. My actual goal is to finish my outline in a month. Slowly but surely I'm getting there.

Monday, however, will also bring the official start to my training for another half marathon. However, this one is in December, and is in the town near where I live. I also have the option to run the 10k if I don't feel like taking on a half marathon. So it's win, win.

The past five weeks have been, well, depressing. I haven't worked out but once. I've literally gone back and forth each day on if I should run the next half or not. I've asked myself tons of times if I want to devote the time for training.

And oddly enough, the answer is I want to do it! I've given myself an easier goal with just the 10k if I feel like the half training is too much. Also a 10k is on my fitness bucket list that I would be able to cross off.

Since my last half, it has been nice to not feel like I have another chore to do with a workout. But I also haven't read as much as I wanted. I didn't sit and watch a whole lot of tv. I certainly didn't write as much as I thought I would. I think I just completely lost focus.

Sadly, my nights have been spent on the internet. That is not an awful thing, but I think we all know it is very unproductive and a time-sapper.

I'm still having a lot of issues with my family and their illnesses. This week I got more bad news that happened with a relative. It feels like a cloud is hanging over us.

Here is the awesome, I'm not being sarcastic, thing about training. You have a goal daily. You can accomplish that goal. A bad run or workout is better than no workout. You can track your progress. And by golly, you are so freaking tired, who has the energy to worry about non-controllable issues?

But another hard truth is: I've gained weight and I've lost all my endurance. So I will be heading back to square one. Which is yucky, yet not, because this time I've armed myself with knowledge. I also have the experience of one half marathon behind me and for that I'm happy and proud.

Me and my sister during the race. The bulge in my pocket are gloves. It was cold, but oh right, I had on a cotton t-shirt...sweaty and cold is more like it.

I will have weekly posts about my workouts. I have 32 weeks until the next one. That sounds like a TON of time, but it's actually not. This also allows for weeks of illness, family events and other obstacles that will come up.

I'm going with the Train Like A Mother plan. The plan gives you some adaptions for those days when you just can't or don't want to schedule a workout. It also gives speed drills and cross-training options for a 15-week program.

Source: Barnes & Noble

The program wants you to "run 6 miles comfortably" preferably before you start. I certainly need to build up to that in a short time, but I'm going to do it.

Also having a 15-week program will allow me to do each week twice. The first week I'll work on endurance and the second week will focus more on speed.

Another BIG, BIG change in this program compared to the Galloway program I used on the first half marathon is I'll be logging in serious miles. My running will be up to four days a week, rather than three. I'll also do my best to hit the number of miles each workout...which may take a while for those 4-5 mile runs.

Another upside is the cold days of winter are nearing the end. But, I will have to run at 5:30 a.m. and it will be dark. However, it will feel amazing to get a workout accomplished right away when I wake up.

Our beach trip in September.

Let's read your spring goals. Has anybody kept up with their New Year's Resolutions? Have you ever run a race? Are you writing a book? Discuss!

The Happiest Toddler On The Block

I hope everybody had a good Easter. We did not make the trip to see my MawMaw (as planned - notice a pattern?). But I'll have an Easter post up as soon as I can get Rich to help me with the pics.

There are only a mere couple of weeks before Emily turns three. It boggles my mind to think of how long three years really is. It does seem like yesterday that she came home from the hospital. Yet, when I think of all the tantrums, yelling "no, no", "more no" and public humiliations....ahhhh, yes, it has indeed been three years.

I love my kid more than anything in the world. But, as a parent there are bad days, weeks, even months. They don't call them the terribles twos and threes for nothing folks.

As much as we'd all like our toddlers to appear to be cherubic angels sent in on unicorns, it's not always that perfect. 

I asked the pediatrician what to do about behavior issues. He said "sure you can read books about it", but coming from a man who has four kids, I should have just listened to him. His suggestion: full-on time outs, consistently.

But, because I like to read advice, I looked into books. I read The Baby Whisperer For Toddlers. Now I present The Happiest Toddler on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp.

Source: Barnes & Noble

The main problem with both of these books are timing. I read these too late in the game. These books are PERFECT for your 1-to-2-year olds. But for a lassie closing in on three, it's too late for a lot of the advice.

He too believes in time outs. He also believes that we try to talk to our children like they are adults. I'm guilty of this. I spend way too much time reasoning and passing out logic. That gal can't comprehend that hey, a monkey is loose in the zoo and we can't go. All she hears is we aren't going to the zoo....WAHHH!!!

Dr. Karp promotes: Fast Food Rule (hehe, not about food btw) and Toddlerese (language for toddlers).

I have tried both of these techniques with some success I must say!

The Fast Food Rule is about using sharp and precise words to get your point across. Sort of like how you place your fast food order. The cashier doesn't ask why do you want that Big Mac? She just places the order. 

Toddlerese is along the lines of "oooooh Emily, Emily wants that sucker?? I know Emily wants that sucker, but we have to eat supper first. Emily, I KNOW you are upset and hey, I'd like a sucker too, but we have to eat supper first, then Emily gets sucker."

Dr. Karp says we need to acknowledge people's needs (even adults). We need to first repeat what they want, then sympathize and go from there. 

Oddly, this process has worked for me. I've surely tested it out to prove this dude wrong. But six out of eight times, it has worked. I think this kid just wants somebody to agree with her no matter what the situation may be.

He also suggests if your Fast Food Rule and Toddlerese does not work, graduate to clapping and growling. This should alert them you are getting pretty effing mad and they need to shape up. 

This is where I think my kid is just too old. She does not fall for this. 

He also suggests almost giving them something, like juice, and then take it away just before you put it in her hands. This should teach patience. I feel like it's too much of a tease for them.

I did find the book useful overall. It has made a difference in how I see and talk to my child. I do recommend this book for parents of babies and early toddlers. 

What I'm finding is each child and each parent is different. Books can help, but parenting boils down to you communicating with your child, trying different techniques and learning what works. The pattern, ahem, seems to be you get something down pat and your child then leaves that issue to move onto another. HAHA!! Love it!

Have you read parenting books? Have you found them helpful? If your child was told a monkey is loose inside the zoo and you can't go in....what sort of reaction would they give you? (BWAHAHAHA)

Monkey on the loose

I actually had off for Good Friday. We had grand plans to make the small trek to New Orleans to go to the Audubon Zoo. Rich had been years ago, I've never been, so we thought perfect.

Hello Kitty shirt, Hello Kitty sunglasses, matching colors everywhere, pillow in tow, let's go!

It was great weather, a nice drive there. They opened at 10 a.m., we got in line at 10:18. At 10:17 a.m. on the dot, a "small primate" got loose. In the zoo. So they shut the gates to let people in. While we were in line.

We waited about 30 minutes while the lines built up and kids got cranky. We were told there was a "procedure" going on and they would open as soon as they could. The disappointment. We had to tell Emily the "zoo was broke".

So we made lemonade out of lemons. We went to a poboy restaurant called Tracys for lunch. At that point we learned a monkey was on the loose. The plan was to swing by the zoo after we ate to see if it was open.

Needless to say the zoo did reopen, but the lines, oh the lines. By that point we were closing in on the "good behavior's about to end zone". We decided to go to the Audubon Park instead. It was a great choice.

I definitely want to come back here for a good run. There is a nice path for runners and cyclists.

We also made our way to a playground by our house. Yes, we were trying to get this kid sleepy. lol!

Today was spring cleaning day. Holy smokes we are exhausted, but our poor house hadn't had a good cleaning in months. We also put the headboard on Emily's bed. It was quite the task.

Her headboard is actually from her crib. We bought a transitional crib/bed before she was born. Let's be honest here, those beds are a pain in the ASS. But, I'm pretty excited we got the headboard done. We tried to get the footboard to attach, but we had so many problems we gave up. We will try again next weekend.

And alas, this kid is sooo sleepy at 5 p.m. today.

Tomorrow, which will be Easter, Rich is going to the Astros baseball game with friends who invited him. Me and Emily will go with my mom to visit my grandmother. Another road trip!

Happy Easter to you and your family! Do you have a transitional crib for your baby/toddler?

Incarnate

Source: Barnes & Noble

It is hard for me to believe, but it is true that I have read only FIVE books for 2013. This was going to be the year I write my own book (I keep starting and stopping), finish up training for the half marathon (done), get the house organized (working on), learn to sew (haven't opened the sewing machine box) and work on getting photos organized and developed (started this over the weekend).

Because I just can't do it all, not matter how hard I try, I have to sacrifice something. I sacrifice enough time with my child working, so that's not an option. I run in the mornings before she wakes up. I do a workout dvd some nights after she goes to bed. So that literally leaves me about an hour or two at the most for all these extracurricular activities.

So I had to let the social media obsession and "reading as many books as I can in a year" project go. I've also let a good part of my tv watching go, but hey, that's not a bad thing!

I still read, but I'm a slow reader like I'm a slow runner. LOL! I've been reading during my 30-minute lunch breaks at work. It took an entire month to read one book.

For the book Incarnate, by Jodi Meadows, I read it off/on the last couple of weeks. I finished it over the weekend because I was dying to find out how it ended. Now I'm ready for the sequel. But alas, I'm forcing myself to wait until May 1 so I can get in 30 days of good plotting and writing my own book.

This is a long, rambling post just to get to this. Read this book! Especially if you are interested in reincarnations or sci-fi-type young adult themes.

I described in my Authorgraph post a bit about the plot. The heroine is the only person born in her society NOT reincarnated. She was born only herself, and not as a replacement for a past life. Naturally the society does not like her, wants to get rid of her and so on. There are NO love triangles (not in the first book).

It is a bit weird/confusing to think some were reborn as females and males, when previously they were the opposite sex. But I found the plot to be interesting and I'm pretty excited to read the next one.