Disney theme

I wanted to post a few blogs this past weekend, but I was suffering some sort of stomach bug. Nothing worse than spending the night in the bathroom, revisiting what you ate previously that day every hour or every other hour (I was trying to say that as best as I could without the horrible imagery). I am feeling mostly better…I say mostly as my stomach is still a little sensitive, but nonetheless my daughter and I are going on vacation.

Tomorrow morning my daughter and I will be leaving here bright and early to start our trip. First it’s a twelve hour drive to pick up my sister and her husband. Then it’s a five hour drive to Disney World in Orlando where we’ll spend four days in each of Disney’s themed parks. My sister Jil and I have coordinated events and maps and things to see and things to do, so all and all we’ll be busy.

Starting today and into next week I’ll have a Disney theme blog post. I’ll share pictures and stories of our trip. I hope it’ll be inspiring or helpful, hopefully both.

All packed and ready for our trip to Disney World

 

Growing up too fast

My daughter Dublin has been taking speech therapy as well as PT therapy and OT therapy. Since I had pulled her out of daycare for the summer her therapist have been visiting her here at home.

I’ve never seen them while they were working with her, usually I would catch the end of their session. At first Dublin didn’t want anything to do with them. I guess it was the change of scenery, but she knew who they were and have been working with them for months now, so they weren’t total strangers. It took her a little while to finally begin her therapy session and I was there to see what all they do with her.

There was a few games Dublin would play on a tablet and I was quite amazed at how well she was doing. It made me smile so big watching her. I was beaming with joy deep inside, thinking how smart my baby girl is. Then it was time to work on repeating words and sentences. Some words came out clearly, while other words were more of a mumble. Still I could notice a difference in how she talks now from when she first started her therapy sessions.

The other night I was wide awake thinking of my birthday coming up in June, I’ll be 34. But that isn’t what got me, it is the fact that my little girl is growing up way too fast. I started to realize how old she really is and that she’ll be four soon; December. Then not too far from now she’ll be starting kindergarten. I tossed and turned most of the night, unable to sleep. I would see baby’s in the store and just smile and think how I remember my little girl being that tiny, it seems like it was a few months ago. But just recently I noticed she had grown a few more inches and could no longer fit in a few pairs of jeans.

I’m glad I am able to spend as much time as I can with her during the summer because the time that I’m in school is spent doing way too much homework and very little time with my daughter. We have four more days until we leave for Georgia to pick up my sister, then we’re off to Disney. I know she’s anxious to go and so am I.

Star Wars VII

I’m a huge fan of Star Wars and Star Trek as well as several other SciFi shows and movies. Actually, I’m just a geek…and I love it! I read in today’s newspaper that JJ Abrams is going to be the director of the upcoming Star Wars episode 7, coming out in 2014. JJ Abrams has made a well known name for himself as the one behind the wheel in the last Star Trek film, as well as the upcoming Star Trek film coming out next week. So what better person to direct the new Star Wars film than JJ Abrams? I personally think he’s the man for the job. I’m looking forward to seeing the newest Star Wars film as always.

Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you mom’s and even to those single dad’s out there that play the duel parenting role.

We’re going to Disney World

It’s been many years since I’ve taken a vacation. Every year I would read facebook status from friends and family who are going to the beach during the summer or taking a trip somewhere. Meanwhile my daughter and I are at home with no plans to go anywhere.

This year there was plans to take a trip to Pennsylvania at the end of June for a family reunion, but those plans fell through. Since I still had money saved up, I still wanted to go somewhere. My youngest sister called me and asked if I wanted to take my daughter to Disney World and I was more than happy to say yes. I was the age my daughter is now, three, when I first went; actually it was my only time I have ever been. Thirty one years later I’m sure Disney World has changed…a lot!

Since my sister’s husband is in the military he can purchase discounted tickets, which makes going to Disney that much better. I immediately got online and begin planning the trip. Disney has a website you can visit and plan your entire stay; which parks you want to visit, which rides you want to ride, an entire checklist, plus you can print out a map with your checklist added onto it. I also made a packing checklist too while I was on the computer so that I wouldn’t forget anything. I’m not sure who’s more excited about going, me or my daughter. I just can’t wait to see her face when she meets her favorite Disney characters.

I’m even planning on making a special trip to the beach, as she’s never been. I grew up on the beach and miss it more and more each day. It’s hard being so far from the ocean. I’m sure she’s going to be just as giddy as I am when she sees the ocean and plants her feet into the sand. She loves swimming and playing in the water so I know it’s going to be a great time.

I’m looking forward to our trip and will post pictures in a later blog.

What are your plans for the summer? Taking a trip or spending some time off at home relaxing?

First day of my summer break

Today was my first day beginning my summer break. I took my last final of the semester yesterday and felt confidant that I aced it. I gave it a few hours before I checked my overall grades and saw that I made an A in that class which is Cultural Anthropology. Anthropology is what I decided that I would be majoring in. I’m even more excited to see that I received another A and a B in two other classes. I’m still waiting to see what I received for one more class, but I have a feeling I did very well. My GPA even went up, which makes me happy. I even registered for five more classes for next semester.

Now with school being over I can relax and enjoy being stress free for awhile. Most importantly, I can now spend the time that I want with my daughter.

Today she told me that she wanted to go outside and play, well, not in so many words, but with gestures and with her putting her shoes on and running to the door. I grabbed my purse, a bottled water, put my shoes on, and went outside. Instead of playing on the swing set in our backyard, I decided to take her to the park down the street.

One thing I can tell you that if you ever decide to go to the park with an energetic three year old, wear tennis shoes and not flip flops. My calf muscles burned after running around the playground with her for a half hour. She then wanted me to take her for a walk around the foot path trails that go around the perimeter of the park. I decided that the half we walked was at least two miles.

It did feel good to go for a walk, especially after several months of sitting being a computer researching and typing essays almost daily. From the lack of exercise I noticed that I had put on a few pounds, which is something that I am not comfortable with. I haven’t had much luck in losing these extra baby pounds due to my lower back pain, so putting on more weight makes me feel even more depressed. I am planning on doing a lot more walking this summer, though I plan on having my little girl with me.

Making my own traditions on Friday’s

It seems like each semester, for the past year and a half, I end up having Friday’s off or I have an early morning class, giving me the rest of the day to do something. Last semester, Friday’s were spent hanging out with a close friend of mine. We would go to one of the few museums in Little Rock, then eat lunch at a cafe or McD’s, or to the movies. No matter what, we would find something to do on Friday.

This semester, every Friday morning, for the past two and a half months, has become a tradition for me; more like a ritual. After I drop my daughter off at daycare, I drive to my local Hastings bookstore and sit in the Hardback Coffee Cafe and write. I always drink a coffee or frappe or smoothie, browse through the magazines, read something I have brought from home, work on one of my manuscripts, and then browse the book shelves before meeting my sister Jaci for lunch. Sometimes Dad will eat with us and occasional our mother will too. And on occasion my mother will be sitting at a table close by typing away on her laptop.

 

It has become something I look forward to though, as it is my only day off from school, aside from the weekend. It is like a day of relaxing my mind from school work and I also get out of the house. Since I am a writer, as well as a full time student, I have given myself Friday’s as a day to write; not on school work, but on the latest novel or children’s book.

Chai Tea Frappe recipe

It can be nerve wrecking sometimes when you cannot find the recipe you’re searching for. I’ve spent over an hour so far just looking for the right recipe for a Chai tea frappe or smoothie. Each recipe I find has a long list of items that I would have to buy. But why buy all those things when you can buy the Chai mix in liquid or powder form? To which I already have.

I had finally found a recipe using the Oregan Chai mix, but everything was measured in ounces. Using a chart I figured the comparison from ounces to cups.

 

1/2 cup of ice

1/2 cup of chai tea (liquid mix)

1/3 cup of yogurt or milk

blend and enjoy!

All this just for a Chai tea frappe or smoothie lol!

If anyone has a better recipe that you prefer, please let me know in the comments below.

May the 4th

Happy Star Wars day to you all and May the fourth be with you!

His name is dinosaur

I saw my daughter playing with a toy dinosaur while we were in the kitchen. I went up to her and asked her, “What’s your dinosaur’s name?”. She looked at me curiously. I then asked her, “Is his name George?”

“No, not George,” she replies.

“Is it Phil?” I ask.

“No, not Phil,” she tells me.

“Is it Bob?”

“No, not Bob,” she says shaking her head.

“What is his name?” I ask her again.

She looks at me and clearly says, “Dinosaur.”

“Oh, dinosaur,” I replied. I smiled at her and did a mental facepalm, thinking that I should’ve known that.

When toddlers share

I’m glad my daughter loves to share. She’ll share her toys and her food with me or whomever. She’ll walk up to me and say ‘Ah’, to get me to open my mouth. When I do, she’ll put something in my mouth and I’m thankful that it isn’t gooey, already chewed up, or ridden with dirt from the floor. It’s actually fresh and straight from the bowl from when I first poured whatever it is that I had given her.

I am glad that my daughter doesn’t mind sharing and I love her for that. She even shares with her toys, sometimes putting them into her bowl of whatever she’s eating, especially if it’s cereal.

These are toy gorillas in her bowl of cereal

 

Sharing the cover of my children’s book

As some of you may know, I have written a children’s book and sent it to a publisher last June. It was accepted to be published. I have been sharing on my blog here, the steps I have gone through in getting published, working with an illustrator, working with my editor, and also what I have heard from my publisher. It has been an exciting time and quite the learning experience.

Friday, I had checked my mail and found that they had sent me a ‘final proof’ of my book. Though the illustrator had emailed me, telling me that he sent me one. It took a whole day of waiting for it to get to me.

The computer could not do the illustrations justice. I thumb through the pages and I could see more detail in the drawings than I could on the computer. I LOVE it! It’s brightly colorful…if that is a thing. My daughter was just as excited to see it too, having read it at least four times….though she’s three, she mostly told the story as how she sees it, rather than reading the words off of the page (she cannot read…yet).

I shared the cover of my little book with everyone on my author page on facebook. Receiving nothing but positive comments and a lot of excited sharing from my close family members and friends.

I’m still waiting to receive a release date as I keep sending my book back for corrections. But without further ado, I shall share with you the cover art of my first published book. And if you happen to have a facebook, please go check out my author page. Wishing everyone a blessed weekend!

If you click on the picture, it’ll take you to my author page on Facebook.

A Typical Friday Morning

I walk through the door on the the cafe side of Hastings in Benton. It has become my usual place to be on Friday mornings.

I sit at one of the tables that are situated between the magazines and the Hardback Coffee Cafe. Immediately I begin pulling out my notebook, pen, and the current manuscript I’m working on and begin to work.

My other writing places are at home, Pulaski Tech’s library, and the Bryant public library. The change of scenery seems to help my creative mind. This is how I have learned to break my writer’s block.

I love it here, being surrounded by books. It’s just like being at the library, but it has a different atmosphere. The aroma of coffee, my favorite smell, teases my nose. Its alluring magic overwhelms my sense of want like an imaginary hand, pulling my attention towards the coffee counter. I get up and place my order, Chai tea frappe.

I watch the tall blonde young woman make my order. Her hair pulled up in a short pony tail. She has a colorful tattoo on her arm that I cannot quite make out and a bracelet that looks to be made out of blue plastic beads. She sets my cup down in front of me and tells me how much it is. I hand her exact change and return to my seat.

I slowly drink my frappe and the cold taste hits my taste buds; a wonderful mixture of vanilla and creme, sweetness and cold. It hits the spot and the imaginary hand soon disappears.

I finally begin to write. The words just pour out onto the page. Customers come in and out through the door behind me, ordering their drinks. I never stop to look up to watch them, though I can see them in my peripheral view. Some sit and tap on their laptops, or browse through the magazines before moving into the other part of the store.

A lady sitting at the table next to mine taps away at her laptop. She’s been here every Friday like me, though she arrives before I do. I listen unintentionally to her long fake nails clicking on the keyboards. They make a rhythmic, yet annoying sound, but only last for a few minutes as she packs her laptop into its bag and leaves.

The employees behind the register rotate out. The young blonde woman is replaced by a tall, dark haired young man with a beard. He turns the music on, playing it low on the speakers overhead. Immediately he begins to sing along. First it’s Adele, followed by Christina Aguilera. i smile, still staring down at my notebook. Soon I find myself humming along. I don’t seem to mind listening to him sing as he isn’t bad.

He walks around the small cafe, wiping the table tops. I look up and my eyes wonder to the magazines. Famous places, cars, faces, and movie stars stare back at me. It’s time for a mental break. I pack my things into my bag and head back towards the books.

After a few minutes of walking through the aisles at a snail’s pace, my phone rings. My sister wants to meet up for lunch. Pizza. My stomach helps me answer yes. I didn’t realize the time, it was almost 1 PM. I had been here for three and a half hours. Time had surely flown, but yet I made great use of that time. I’m looking forward to next Friday morning and begin, what seems like a routine, all over again.

You know you’re a mom when…

You know you’re a mom when you get excited hearing for the first time, ‘Mommy, I have to go potty!’

My eyes got wide and I smiled the biggest smile and said, “Yay! Let’s go potty!”

We run to the bathroom where she pulled her pants down and sits on the potty. I sit on the tub a few feet away, looking off into space, giving her privacy. 

A few minutes passes and she decides to stand and pull her pants up. False alarm. 

“It’s okay baby,” I tell her. “We’ll try again in a few minutes.” We calmly walk back into the kitchen where I continued preparing breakfast. Pancakes.

This continued several times through out the day. Still no success, but we still continue to try. 

I did it, it’s done!

I have finally added the finishing touches to the rough draft version of my Young Adult manuscript, polishing it to the best of my abilities. I have finally made it to, a hair over, 41K words. I feel excited and yet, very accomplished. I set a goal for myself and have reached it.

I printed out my manuscript and handed it over to the one who is editing it for me. I told her to be very critical, as it is expected from real editors, agents, and publishers these days. I have two weeks left of school and will be spending it wrapped up in completing last minute essays and studying for finals.

As soon as I’m done with this semester i’m going to be working on my query letter and searching for agents. Quite a few people have asked me, “What about the using the publisher you already have?” I used them for my children’s book, due out next month. They are a Christian based company and probably won’t accept my manuscript as it is Fantasy-Fiction. I will ask them though.

It took me three years to write this novel, but I had many road bumps that prevented me from completing it sooner. I cannot wait to read my edits and get to work on them already. Since it is book one I’m already feeling itchy to begin working on book two.

I have at least fifteen chapters of written out in notes on how the book will be written and at least seven of those chapters have already been written. Yes, I’ve started this one long ago as well, when book one was a rough draft of a rough draft. I did not know how I wanted the story to end in book one. I then changed it many times, until I finally found the ending that worked best.

I’ll keep everyone posted on what I’m working on and my progress. Cross your fingers that I do find the right agent for me.

Wishing everyone a blessed day!