Worst Photos of 2012

During last year's party, I posted funny search terms used to find my blog and the worst photos taken during my year of blogging.  Well, this year I was going to do the same thing.  Except last year's list of search words was merely two, and this year's has absolutely nothing.  Seriously, most searches that lead to my blog are Christmas-related... plus searches for cookies, griffins, and other random stuff that I actually have blogged about.

Therefore, I decided to do away with the search term list and instead make the Worst Photos my tradition.  Enjoy the awful!

a photo of a sea sponge at the aquarium, taken by my then-ten-year-old brother Nick

my Christmas tree... with all wrong lighting

a coconut growing into a tree in Dominica

ugh... *shudder* me in Capitol citizen costume for seeing The Hunger Games the first time around.

this was an awful idea. (the costume, not the movie)

blurry image of some wild daisies by the lake

playing with my new camera when I first got it

(the hutch in our living room, photographed with fisheye or fishbowl lens or something)

me attempting to take a photo of a hairdo I liked

extremely blurry image of our living room decorated for a birthday party

me making Dr. Pepper cookies, as photographed and head-chopped by my brother Jon

Last year I cheated and posted eleven photos.  This year I totally forgot I was planning this and recently cleaned out and sorted through the photos on my computer.  Therefore, I only have nine somewhat lame images.  Hopefully next year's awful will be better.  (Worse?)

One Word 365

Last year at this time, a favorite blogger of mine - Melanie from Only a Breath - shared something she'd discovered: OneWord365.  The idea is that, instead of making lists of things you want to change or creating resolutions that never go anywhere, you choose one word which you then live out through the year.

For 2012, Melanie chose "give."  I've watched as she and the online community she influences were blessed by everything that one word led to.

I did some research and discovered just what a huge movement this one-word idea has grown into.  Actually, there are communities/individuals who do this with no affiliation with/knowledge of the OneWord365 site.  I've decided to try it myself.  Maybe I'll make it a lifetime tradition.

My word for 2013 is...

If any of you, my lovely readers, want to join this year's journey, here's a link that you may find helpful: Choosing Your One Word.  I also like looking through one photographer's friends and family, whom she has photographed holding their 2012 word.

When I was first looking into this idea, I was curious - what do people do once they choose their word?  I know every word has different actions attached to it, but I wanted to find some things that I could do every year, regardless of what my word is.  So here's a list I've come up with from around the web.

Claim your word - with free blog buttons made by Melanie, personalized with your word to match your blog design (the images above? those are buttons she made for me!).  You  can also share your word on www.myoneword.org, and link up a post about it on Melanie's blog here.

Wear your word - on personalized jewelry from Etsy!  You might know of an Etsy shop that makes personalized, hand-stamped jewelry.  If not, here are a few I've found: Tiny Tokens Designs; Bee Baubles Jewelry; WSayle Silver and Stone.  I think this particular necklace would be perfect: personalized mini tag necklace.

Write your word - with ink, pencil, crayons, paint, markers, tape, in dust, in sand, in dirt, in the steam on your mirror, on your computer, on a typewriter, on a wipe board, with magazine letters, with newspaper cutouts, in a letter to your future self, in letters to friends and family, and any other way you come up with.

Find your word - on billboards, in television ads, in a magazine, in a newspaper, in books, in movies, in daily conversations, at work, at home, at school, in brand names.  Just keep your eyes and ears open; you'll find it.

Journal your word - why did you choose this word?  What do you want to get from this year?  How do you want to change, to grow, to learn?  Activities, overheard conversations, realizations and lessons, magazine and newspaper clip outs, Pinterest images - it can all go in the journal.  A blog or other online journal works just as well.  If you're not a blogger but you want to share your word with others, email me at newyorksnowflake @ gmail.com.  I'll be considering OneWord365 guest posts throughout the year, although I don't promise anything.

Share your word - let those around you know about your word.  Have them join you in the journey.  They can each choose their own words, and you can all stay on the lookout for the words in daily life.  When they hear your word in a song, they will share that song with you.  When you find their word in a magazine article, you can clip the article and mail it to them.  And on it goes!  Even if they don't join you, they can still help you with your journey this year.

Post your word - around your house.  Use post-its, bulletin boards, dry erase boards, computer backgrounds, refrigerator magnets, and anything else you can find to display your word and keep it in the forefront of your mind.

Quote your word - maybe you sit down one day and find a few random quotes on the internet, or maybe you keep a one word quotes journal through the whole year.  Regardless, seek out the inspiration that others have found through this word and take hold of it yourself.

Study your word - find book(s) and/or blog(s) that talk about or focus on your word.  Set out to learn as much as you can about your word.  Look into its origin, etymology, uses, synonyms, and antonyms.  Find out how this word has changed, grown, or taught others.  Learn what it means to other cultures.  Memorize it in as many languages as possible.

Create your word - write, paint, draw, photograph, collage, compose.  Take advantage of the freedom in art, whether or not you're a creative person, to capture your word and what it means to you.  You know that wall art where photographers write a name with images of things that resemble letters?  Make one - or several! - that spell out your word.  Have fun with it!  Another idea can be to write your word - on an index card, in the dust and dirt on your car, on a handmade banner or shirt, etc. - and then take a picture of you with your word.  Do this with friends or family and their words.  Just be creative!

Sources:

http://oneword365.com/what-to-do-with-your-word/

http://alwayswellwithin.com/2011/12/12/one-powerful-word-2012-a-simple-approach-to-new-years-resolutions/

http://aliedwards.com/2010/02/one-little-word-february-2010.html

http://melbreeland.wordpress.com/

Christmas Contest Winners

And here they are!  The winners of the Christmas Talent Contest.  Unfortunately, we didn't receive many entries in this contest. :(

Actually, to be honest, I only received two.  It was sad.

But. I'm planning future contests, so hopefully next time we'll have a better turn out!

Meanwhile, enjoy the images created by the two readers who *did* enter, Emily Van Eaton (blog reader who also won a recent giveaway) and Eddie Russell (little brother of yours truly).

~Emily Van Eaton

~Eddie Russell

Pinterest Art Winners

Today's another day for announcements - of the winners of Pinterest projects by me!  Let's jump right in.

The winner of one crayon wax piece is...

*Drumroll!*

Emily Van Eaton!

The winner of one sticker quote canvas is...

*Drumroll!*

Sara Wicks!

The winner of one hot glue quote canvas is...

*Drumroll!*

Kelley Roach!

And the winner of a set of hand-painted floral glass jars is...

*Drumroll!*

Miranda la Barge!

Congratulations ladies!  I'll be emailing you to get your mailing information.  However, since I'm currently in Indiana on a last-minute Christmas vacation, your prizes won't be mailed until I get back in early January.  Thanks for your patience!

If you didn't win, don't worry!  There's still a few weeks left in our party, and I'm not out of presents yet ;)

Book Review: Christmas in Apple Ridge

Christmas in Apple Ridge by Cindy Woodsmall

Click the cover to buy

Experience the holidays with the Plain folk of Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania.

This is my first time reading, much less reviewing, an Amish book.  Most Christian and/or female readers are probably aware of the huge Amish trend going on right now.  Honestly, I've been more than reluctant to try it myself.  I only decided to review this book because (a) I wanted something Christmas for the party, and (b) I figured three novellas in one book made a great "Amish fiction" sampler and would give me a better first impression/opinion than one novel.

The stories were great.  I'm not about to go out and buy her next book the minute it releases, like I might for Cidney Swanson or Shannon Dittemore.  But I'm the target audience for those writers, and I'm not for this book.  The writing was pretty strong.  There were a few parts were the story seemed a little slow or bogged down.  For the most part, though, I was cringing at the characters' embarrassing moments and grinning idiotically when they got the guy (or girl).  The story world was beautiful.  I especially loved how each character in each story was unique and alive.



The romance was sweet and warm and fuzzy. All three books were beautifully set in a country Christmas, but they weren't more focused on the setting than the story, like some Christmas and/or country books tend to be.  Basically, the book was great and I'm over my prejudice against Amish books.

I do have one complaint.  The back of the book has a different blurb for each novella, as would be expected.  The first story is about a young woman named Beth who is still getting over a tragedy from a while back.  However, when you start reading, the first several pages are from the viewpoint of a forty-something spinster named Lizzy.  Huh?  As a reader, this first confused and then frustrated me.  You realize soon that Lizzy is Beth's aunt, and later that she is vital to Beth's story - but when you're starting the story, you don't know this, and you want to see the main character.  You subconsciously expect it.  So I think Cindy messed up a little with her first chapter.

Anyone with a connection to the publishing industry - writer, agent, editor, publisher, or want-to-be's of each - knows the ultimate importance of the first chapter, the first page.  It's the worst place to mess up.

This is an even bigger problem when there are three stories in one book.  Each story in this set is better than the previous one (in my opinion), so the third was my favorite.  That's not a problem - but a person's reading those stories all hinges on the first page/chapter of the first novella.  The third story doesn't get a chance to shine with its first page or chapter if the first story doesn't shine.  That's not fair for the amazing writing that is the third story.

In all, I give this book four stars.


I received this book for free through Blogging for Books in exchange for this review.  I was in no way otherwise compensated.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

What Christmas Means For Me {guest post}

Merry Christmas!  Today I have a sweet Christian bloggy friend over to talk about the meaning of Christmas.  Before she starts, though, I have an announcement: due to low entries, I'm opening up the Christmas Talent Contest to all ages!  Don't forget to enter!

In the Christian World, you hear a lot of protest over too much commercialization. There's lots of signs that echo the refrain, "Put Christ back in Christmas!", many parents who teach their children how Jesus, and not Santa Clause, is the real reason for the season, and still a few souls who try to keep their focus on the Savior instead of going google-eyed in the glare of Christmas lights and drooling over coveted presents.

This is all well and good, I'm all for it! But I want to go deeper than that. Even more than appreciating the sacrifice and light that's been brought to the whole world, I want to focus on what Christmas means for one person. What it means for the individual - you and me.

To do this, I'd like to start with a story.



When I was a little girl, around five, I was sitting next to my mom in church. I listened to the pre-service music and watched my grandpa sing softly in his chair on the platform. Turning my head, I looked at my curly-headed sister playing quietly with her crayons. I squirmed, looked around some more, then stretched my neck up to Momma's ear and whispered, "I love you." Mom smiled back, then bent down and whispered, "I love you too, Anna." We were silent once more, waiting for service to start. But, strangely, mom leaned down again. "Do you know, that even if I didn't love you, if nobody loved you, that Jesus still would?"

Those words have echoed in my memory for years and years, most especially, the times when I felt all alone, like nobody cared.

Quite a few "best friends" and favorites have moved out of my life, sometimes slowly, simply slipping out of my scene, but sometimes it really hurt. I remember, during the worst of these situations, lying on my bed, sobbing unabashedly over a friend who decided to distance herself. Mom sat on the foot of the bed, trying to help, as she did through those months of bitterness. Dad tried to help me, too, and both of them did; but it was God who finally took the last stitch out of my heart, one night.

It's so glorious, and this story so personal, that the tears are starting to come back! That night, God revealed his love to me. Not just a "Jesus loves me, this I know" version, but the love that says "I'll never leave you or forsake you. I'll be your friend. I know every last detail about you; how many hairs are on your head, what color your bedroom is painted, every hurt hidden in your heart... I saw when you cried, in the dark, and thought nobody knew. I am interested in your life, Anna. I care."

Then, I found every fear had vanished, in that love. I didn't care if I never got married. I didn't care if nobody accepted me for who I was. I didn't care if I never had friends. I had all the love I ever, ever needed, and all I wanted to do, was spend my life trying to give back that love.

That's what Christmas is about, for me. It's when my peace was born. My healing, my love, my strength. That's when hope was born for my life, that's when victory and deliverance came into being for this young lady. That's when someone loved her so much, that He left his riches and came to live a pauper's life, then die, with His bones exposed and out of joint, blood gushing, excruciating pain wracking through His body. Nails were hammered through His hands, both His feet... spit streaming down His face, until His last, very best friend had to look away, like almost every disciple -  nearly every individual who had shouted "Hosanna!" a few days before - and He was left, completely alone. "Because He first loved me."

That's what Christmas is about. It's a love story; He's the main character and you're the one He's seeking after. He's the prince, you're the beggar. He wants to make you into a princess, supply your every need, heal your hurts and make you beautiful. He wants to be your best friend.

Spend some time with him every day. Thank Him. Serve Him. Let Him be your first love.

Anna Pyatskowit is a Christian and teenage girl who makes her own clothes, is homeschooled, and blogs at The Daughter of the King.  She enjoys baking, playing the piano, writing, and the outdoors - among other things.

Jewelry Review: 4 All Humanity

Remember when I told you about the 4 All Humanity coupon code?  Well, first of all, it's still good - the store is offering free shipping for all purchases made before December 31.  And for you, my lovely readers, use the code maybeteen10 to get 10% off your entire order. :)

Second, the goodies they mailed to me for review came a while back.  I haven't had a chance with the party schedule to talk about them until now.

To recap what I told everyone about the company earlier this month:

4 All Humanity is a privately owned online store that offers internationally created, ethically sourced women's apparel and accessories.  They sell clutches, scarves, dresses, tops, and beautiful jewelry, all from artisans in Africa and India.  Next year's products are to include creations from Peru, as well.

The company sent me the gold cut leaf cuff and the luna drops earrings, both gold and both handmade by women in India.  I took a few photos, but I apologize in advance for poor lighting.  I was playing around with all the settings on my camera a while back and forget to reset the lighting.

Both pieces are beautiful and I love wearing them. :)  My skin is uber-sensitive; I can't wear most earrings, certain rings, and any form of watch for even a full day.  These gold-colored bronze earrings did pretty well on the irritation/allergic reaction level - just some minimal itching, which I expected.  If you're like me and are only supposed to wear pure gold, these earrings still work really well.

As for the cuff, which is also gold-colored bronze, I didn't have any irritation issues at all - the design keeps it off your skin and lets your skin breath.  I will say that the cuff is a little bent in a few spots.  However, it is super-thin metal, handmade, and was mailed to me.  Also, cuffs have to be flexible enough to slide your wrist in without falling off when you're wearing them.  Therefore bending can happen sometimes.

So, pretty much, these are two gorgeous pieces of jewelry that I am in love with.  I can't wait to see the new pieces the store will be offering next year!

Daring and I {guest post}

Today my good friend and fellow blogger Rachelle is sharing a few thoughts on her favorite word.  She didn't know this at the time, but I'm planning to join in a new trend for resolutions this year: one word.  (See more about this at www.oneword365.com) Her description of the word 'daring' contains many thoughts that One Word participants often share in relation to their word each year.


The first reason I like this word so much is because it scares me.

Daring.

It floats from my mouth and either falls to the floor or lifts up and flies. Maybe I also like it because it is so much like me. I feel like so often I either melt into the crackling leaves and dirt beneath...or I move air beneath me and fly.


Call it being an introvert. Call it being a writer. Call it being an INFJ who wants "to change the world without being noticed." Call it whatever I like, that is me. That is me.
The second reason I like this word so much is because it inspires me.

Mary was daring when she said she was willing. Moses was daring when he said that he'd obey (even though it took him a while). Esther was daring, too, when she decided her life wasn't as important as making her plea, taking her stand.

Will I be as daring as they? Will I say I am willing? Will I say I will speak for those who cannot speak for themselves? Will I make my plea in prayer, take my stand on my knees?

There is only one way I can and that is by taking the hand of the One who knows me better than I know myself. He has my life laid before Him. He sees it all like a quilt draped lovingly over a bed, not as single squares--that is my view, by necessity and too often by choice.

So I stand here at the top of a hill, my favorite word floating from my mouth. Will it fall or will it fly? Will I? Can I trust Him with every square of this quilt, every single one?

Yes, yes, I can.

Because I dare.

Rachelle Rea is a Christian homeschool graduate currently studying communications in college.  She adores words - both reading them and writing them - and whimsical things like full skirts or peach roses.  You can visit her at her blog, Inspiring Daring.

Multi-Winner Pinterest Art Giveaway!

So, my lovely readers, remember those Pinterest Report posts I've been doing on Saturdays?  Well, I love testing ideas from Pinterest; I love creating; and I love sharing the results with y'all.  But I've run into a problem: I have more art than I have wall space to display it.  Plus I really want to make more pieces like the ones I've done!  So, in order to clear up space in my room for more creativity and fun, today I'm opening up a five-day, up-to-four-winners giveaway of pieces by yours truly!

Here's what you can win:

And here's the Rafflecopter entry form!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview: Cidney Swanson of Rippler and Saving Mars

Some of my lovely readers may remember Cidney Swanson, a favorite author and friend of mine.  I first discovered her amazing books when I won and reviewed a copy of her first ebook, Rippler.  It was the first in what turned out to be the amazing Ripple trilogy.  For last year's party, Cidney guest posted, came back for an interview, and sponsered a giveaway.  Then, this August, the first book in her new trilogy, Saving Mars - this time both ebook and paperback! - came out and I snatched it up for review.  Today she is again returning to my blog for a new interview and some information about her latest releases.

Welcome back, Cidney!  It's great to have you here again.  As you know, I'm one of your *biggest* fans.   Now, I read and reviewed the first Saving Mars book - it was amazing!  Family is a very central theme to this story and to Jess.  Tell me, what was your family like when you were a teenager?  How has your family - growing up and now, as an adult - had an affect on your writing style and story content?

In spite of the prevalence of really awful family situations in YA, I tend to agree with John Green’s assessment that supportive families are more the norm than not. Not that parents get everything right (we /they don’t), but it isn't for lack of caring and trying in most cases. My family was about average in that way. In terms of the effect of my particular family circumstances in my growing up, I should mention my parents’ huge contribution to my love of reading. (Dad taught English at a nearby high school, and Mom made sure we had library books.)



Within my books, family has been hugely important, as you point out. With Rippler, I was interested in turning the myth of the cruel step-mother on its head. I have known some amazing step-mothers and thought they deserved more credit! With Saving Mars, I created a culture where every single person recognizes how deeply dependent they are upon others in their community for basic survival. And of course, that dependency begins with the most basic social unit, the family.

The Rippler and Saving Mars series both have very prevalent scientific aspects.  The Rippler books are based around a genetic disorder Sam and Will have.  The Saving Mars books are set in a future where colonists lived on Mars.  Were you always interested in science?  How does having so many scientific details to get right affect your research and writing process?

Was I always interested in science? Hmm… I don’t think I've ever been asked that question! I guess I must have been, in a funny kind of way. I was three or four when I first saw Star Trek and Lost in Space, and I completely fell in love with those shows. But that didn't translate into a love of studying science in school. However, I did marry a physicist and I remember thinking that his physics major made him a whole lot more interesting of a person. One of our first conversations involved me picking his brain for answers to typical questions like, “What is a black hole?” and “What is a red giant? A white dwarf?” and so on. I’m sure I asked him why the sky is blue at some point, too. ;0)

If I get stuck on a science question, I will noodle around on the Internet for awhile, but generally speaking, I will eventually hit up my husband for a few answers. He helped me figure out some things about Mars’s orbit relative to Earth’s orbit and how to calculate the length of the trips made in my Mars books. Okay, who am I kidding? He calculated the whole thing for me! In the Ripple books, the answers only had to be plausible. In the Mars books, I had to find very precise answers to scientific questions.

Now for a few more generic questions: Do you listen to music while you write?  If so, what kind?

I used to whine, “But I can study better with music playing.” It was a lie. A vile lie!
Now, I know many people for whom it is true. And I know many people who write with music playing. But I don’t listen to music while I write. I get too distracted by it. I love music. If it is playing, I will focus on it to the exclusion of writing. But I often find inspiration in a song. Here’s an example: I heard “Drops of Jupiter” by Train playing in a store one day. As the song played, although I couldn't hear all the words, I had this angsty sense of how Pavel felt missing Jessamyn. (Trying not to be spoilery!) Later, when I was writing Pavel scenes, I would often play that song just before I wrote so that I could get myself in that same head-space.

What's your writing desk/space like?  Anything you can't write without?

Um, yeah. My desk. It is generally not fit for public consumption. Right now, I have a laptop up on a stack of seven books to keep the monitor high. (I use a separate keyboard.) There are a handful of receipts on my left. There is a bottle signed by John Lasseter (of Pixar/Disney fame.) There are pics of my kids and DH. And me and DH dressed as pirates. There’s a picture I took of the colored granite rocks in Illilouette Creek when I was a teen. (Inspired the scene in Rippler.) There is a Tinkerbell music box and about seven reference books on Mars and two (count them, two) bars of dark chocolate. And, um, about a zillion pieces of paper and envelopes and sticky notes. Everywhere, sticky notes.
As far as the second question goes: apparently I can’t write without a hot cup of tea. I've tried. And epic-failed.

There's one question I'm particularly interested in.  In the Rippler series, which fits today's young adult market well, there was some swearing.  I mentioned that in my review. (link here)  You read and commented on my review personally.  In Saving Mars, all swear words are ancient-mythology-based expressions made up by the Mars colonists - there's even a bit that explains how some people were worried about swearing being offensive to others.  So my question is twofold: do you personally read and consider your reviews, and do they affect your writing?  (To put it a bit more selfishly, did my review play a part in the language factor of Saving Mars? ;] )

Okay, so first question first: do I read and consider all my reviews? I sure try to. Readers teach me a lot! And as far as the language factor in my writing…our conversation influenced me in that it made me more aware that for some readers, having any swearing in print is offensive with a capital “O.”

For me, swearing is a part of language which can be used with the intent to offend OR used unwittingly OR used with the intent to express deep emotional anguish. Personally, I try to avoid the first use whenever possible. I sometimes swear for the second reason—unwittingly. And I am sympathetic to the human need to use words to express deep emotion. And that is when (as a person and as a writer) I use the sort of language you pointed out as offensive. So, I guess I would say that due to our conversation, I am now more aware of the potential for offending others, which I was not very aware of previously. But I feel a responsibility as an artist to create characters that reflect truth and reality. Hence, sometimes they will swear.

Saving Mars is set a few centuries in the future. Words change over time. I knew that, realistically, there would be a culture of swearing that would have grown up around a military/frontier environment like Mars Colonial. For me, it is a far more interesting choice to have that swearing be unique and to owe its origin to the nature of the world I was building: Marsians cannot afford to offend one another! Also, I like interesting words. So that is why I invented the Marsian way of swearing. As for the swearing done on the Terran world, I just asked myself what etymological transitions might occur over the course of 300 to 400 years and came up with Pavel’s go-to expression of distress using a word with a long history in Old and Middle English and Germanic tongues. (Hint: it did not start life as an offensive word, and it is on its way to being non-offensive again, given another hundred years or maybe less.)

I hope that gives you some sort of answer!

Thanks so much for having me visit, Emily!

Thanks for coming! I enjoy all your visits :)

Giveaway Winners

Today I don't have a guest blogger, author to interview, or witty and charming post by yours truly to share with you, my lovely readers.  I do, however, have some announcements to make: winners!  Namely, who will take home the Etsy presents and eggless recipe.

First off, the winner of one Alice in Wonderland White Rabbit hand-drawn moleskin is...

*Drumroll!*

Bethany Baldwin!

Next we have the winner of a surprise gift from Space Pearls...

*Drumroll!*

Nichole Adkins-Bentley!

And finally, the next great baker privy to an exclusive Cookery Expressions eggless recipe is...

*Drumroll!*

Michelle Gilliland McAfee!

Congratulations to all of today's winners!  I'll be emailing you and the wonderful women who sponsored these giveaways about obtaining your presents.  To those of you who didn't win, don't lose heart!  I still have plenty of gifts under my tree to share... check back in regularly so you don't miss out!

Christmas Contest!

I'm really excited about today, my lovely readers, because I'm finally getting to try something on this blog that I've planned for a while - a contest!

Who: Anyone, from any country, follower or non-follower, all ages.

What: Christmas talent contest!

When: Today through midnight, December 27.

Where: Email all entries to newyorksnowflake (at) gmail (dot) com. No attachments, please.  All entries must be in the body of the email.

How/Rules: Send me any photo, scanned/photographed artwork, poem, story, song, etc. that is original and PG- or G-rated.  You may enter multiple forms of work (i.e, a photo and a story), but you may not enter more than one of the same format (i.e, two stories).  Each entry must be a separate email.  Stories must be 300 words or less.  (I'll be a bit lenient for a few words over, but please respect my time and do your best to stick to that limit.)  Since this is a Christmas contest, entries must be winter or holiday themed.  Accepted holiday themes include Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and Kwanzaa.

Prize: Depending on how many entries I receive, and how varied the entries are, the number of winners will vary.  I will either divide the entries into categories (stories, poems, photos, etc.) and choose one winner from each; OR I will simply choose three-five winners from all the entries.  The winners will have their work published here on my blog during this party.

Entry Format:

[Subject line of email must read "Christmas Contest Entry"]

First name and last name or initial:

Website (blog, Deviant Art, Fanfiction.net, YouTube, etc. - optional):

Entry Category:

[Entry in body of email]

Spread the word and good luck!

Holiday Break To-Do: Watch These 5 Classic "Going to College" Films {guest post}

Today a freelance writer who recently discovered my blog is sharing five going-to-college movies now considered classics.  Before this list, I'd only seen (or heard of!) Toy Story 3.  Guess I'll be watching some Netflix over Christmas break!

Holiday break is quickly approaching. It’s time to start planning how you will spend your time off. One entertaining way to spend your evenings is by watching a few good movies at home with family and friends. The following five movies tell timeless stories about growing up and making big life changes; stories that everyone can relate to. Also known as “coming of age” films, all of these flicks are also American film classics.



American Graffiti
Released in 1973, American Graffiti is about teenage life in the early 1960s. It tells the story of a group of teenagers who recently graduated from high school, and their adventures during one summer night on the town. Two of Hollywood’s greatest actors of all time, Harrison Ford and Ron Howard, have roles in the film, but what really make this movie so enjoyable are its soundtrack, costume design and settings. The film won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture and was also nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. It is rated PG.

Breaking Away
Released in 1979, Breaking Away tells the story of four working class teenagers who have come to a crossroads in life. They’ve just recently graduated from high school and have to make the decision to either go to college or get a regular blue-collar job. The boys quickly find inspiration by forming their own cycling team and racing against the wealthy fraternity teams in the annual university cycling race. Breaking Away is ranked eighth on the List of America’s 100 Most Inspiring Movies, and it won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and was also nominated for Best Picture. It is rated PG.

Dead Poets Society
Dead Poets Society was released in 1989. Set in 1959, the film tells the story of a prep school English teacher who uses poetry to teach self-confidence, self-expression and wisdom. This new-found confidence leads his students to do things they didn’t have the courage to do before. Unfortunately, this leads to disaster for one student, but the moral of the story is everlasting. The movie won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and was nominated for Best Picture, as well. It is rated PG.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
This classic John Hughes film was released in 1986 and tells the story of Ferris Bueller, a high school senior who decides to skip school one day and tour Chicago. He brings along two of his best friends, Cameron and Sloane, and the three spend the entire day looking for fun, while trying to avoid getting caught. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off has been a hit with audiences since it first hit theaters, and today, it is still one of the most popular comedy films of all time. It is rated PG-13.

Toy Story 3
This one may come as a surprise, but Toy Story 3 is actually not just a movie for kids. In fact, the film’s storyline grew up as the main human character, Andy, did. For this reason, the movie can be enjoyed by all ages; even older adults will find it moving. Originally released in 2010, Toy Story 3 begins with Andy packing up and moving away to college. Andy doesn’t want to give his toys away, so he puts them in the attic. However, his mom finds them and gives them away to a nearby daycare. The film tells the story of the toys’ journey to their eventual new home. This film won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film and was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. It is rated G.

Happy Holidays to all!

Caroline Ross is a freelance writer for several education and career websites, including www.AccreditedOnlineUniversities.com. Although her writing often focuses on recent education news and trends in learning, she also enjoys sharing information and advice on just about anything! Caroline welcomes your questions and comments below.

Author Interview: Rachel Coker of Interrupted

Before sharing today's post with you, I'd just like to share some exciting news and celebrate a big moment: we have officially hit one hundred followers!  The big 100!  This is huge for me, and I'm just blown away.  I'd do a great big celebratory 100-related giveaway, but with everything I already have lined up for our party, that's just not possible.  Still, I want to say: Thank you all so much!  You, my lovely readers, are the reason I've stuck to blogging even when my schedule gets crazy or I wonder why I'd ever start writing.  Now, on with the show!

Today I've invited a favorite blogger and fellow homeschooler, Rachel Coker, to talk about her life as an actual published teenager.  She's the author of Interrupted and Chasing Jupiter, both historical young adult novels, and blogs at rachelcoker.com.

Hi Rachel!  As you know, I love your blog and pop in often.  I'm so glad you were able to drop by here at mine!  Let's start with some basic writing questions...

How long were you writing before Interrupted? 
Believe it or not, I actually hadn’t done that much writing before Interrupted. That was the first full-length novel I ever wrote, and I wrote it when I was thirteen/fourteen years old. I started writing when I was twelve, I think. I know I was in sixth grade. But all I’d ever written before Interrupted were short stories and one short novella.



That's a rather unusual story!  Most writers spend years practicing... but then, there are those writers like you for whom God has other plans. ;)

Why did you start writing? Have you always wanted to be a writer?
The first ever fiction story I wrote was for a school assignment! I’m homeschooled, and we’d never really done any fiction writing, so when I was in sixth grade my mom made me write a short fiction story. It came to me so naturally—we were both really surprised! After that, she hired a writing tutor to help me develop my gift for fiction, and I wrote a lot of short stories. I loved writing, and always thought it would be amazing to be an author one day, but I never actually thought I would be a published author at sixteen. I’m continually surprised at that fact.

Who or what has had the most influence on you as a writer?

My own life. As a teenage girl, it’s so easy to think of things to write about. I’m constantly growing and learning new things, and always riding that rollercoaster of emotions that comes along with being a teenager. It’s easy to know how my characters would think or react to things. And it’s given me a real passion to write for other young people

As a teen writer myself, I can definitely relate to that.  However, I've never been very good at research (it's fun but I always miss/forget something!) so it's a good thing I have a very unique teen life to draw from.  Which reminds me...

How much research do you put into your books?  How do you do your research, especially since your books are set in the past?

I’m a huge history buff, so I love researching for my books! Every book I’ve written so far has taken place in the mid-20th Century, since that’s my favorite time period to study. It’s both fun and challenging since there isn’t really any room for imagination. The people who lived back then are still alive, and they let you know if you got something wrong! But I definitely have to research presidents, housing conditions, automobiles, etc. As well as having a firm grasp on pop culture and the everyday life of a girl in the 40’s or 60’s! Sometimes I make mistakes, though. My agent teased me once for putting a cordless telephone in a 1940’s house. You forget about how new some of our modern conveniences really are!

Do you base events or people in your books off of your life, or your friends' and family's lives?  I used to do this constantly, but have recently gone in very opposite directions with my stories.
It depends. Usually if I’m going to base a book of something real, it will come from my own life. I wrote Interrupted shortly after I had an uncle pass away from a brain tumor, the same disease Allie’s mother dies of. And the plot of Chasing Jupiter was based off of a conversation I had with an autistic boy at my church. But the book I’m writing right now (shhhh---not telling you anything!) is actually based off my grandfather’s life. So it’s definitely different and exciting to be doing that.

What do you do when you're not writing?
Ha! I feel like I’m constantly doing other things and only occasionally have time to write! Let’s see… Trying to pass my senior year of high school. Teaching piano. Running my own photography business. Attending Bible studies. Going to the movies with friends. Waking up at 7 AM to make oatmeal. Normal stuff. ;)

What's your favorite book or author?
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson and Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. Those are the two best books and most talented authors I have ever read.

I've read Bridge to Terabithia - it's a very good quality, literary book, but not my personal favorite.  As for Gone With the Wind... well, I hate it when others judge a book by its movie, so I shouldn't either.  But I will say I loved the movie!

What was the biggest obstacle to getting published - was it your age or something else? - and how did you overcome it?
I don’t think it was my age. My publishers were actually very excited about my age and situation, so that was a real blessing for me. I think it was more getting over my own reservations about being published. I hated thinking about everyone in my community talking about me and reading my book and making judgments. I’m a very private person when it comes to talking about my writing career around friends, and I didn’t want to feel awkward about it around them. I was afraid that people—friends, peers, guys—would treat me differently if they thought I was some kind of snooty author. For the most part, that’s not been true. But it was still difficult to overcome my fears in those areas.

I'm not even published or anything, and there are people who have treated me differently when they find out I'm a writer.  Honestly, it doesn't make any sense to me!  But then there are others who still see you for who you are, not what you do, and that makes them all the more special in your life.

What is your writing process? Do you write regularly at certain times or just when inspiration hits?
I write so sporadically, it’s not even funny. I’ll go weeks without writing anything, then sit down and write ten thousand words in one day. My books have to be fifty thousand words, so that’s a pretty big chunk!

Hey, that's NaNo length! :)

What keeps you motivated?
Remembering that there are people looking up to me for advice and inspiration. It keeps things in perspective. Even on those days that I’m feeling pretty crummy and uninspired, all I have to do is read a few of the emails and letters I’ve gotten from readers and it makes me want to go whip out another book for them. Everyone’s been so supportive of me—I feel so blessed! Also, remembering that I’m writing for God’s glory, not mine. It humbles me to think of all the ways He’s used Interrupted to minister in people’s lives, and I wish that for all my future books.

Are there any books you wish you'd written? 
I mentioned Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. I really wish I’d written that book. It has such a powerful message to kids about being true to yourself and the best friend possible. Plus, I love books that teach children how to deal with grief and tragedy in a healthy way. So many kids go through the most terrible things—death, cancer, abuse—without knowing that there are other people out there who they can talk to. Books like Bridge to Terabithia teach children that it’s okay to be sad sometimes, but that you can grow stronger because of your pain. I just love that.

I've read it, but I know some of my lovely readers haven't, so tell us in your words: what is Interrupted about?
Interrupted is a historical fiction novel set in the 1940’s. It’s about a girl named Allie Everly whose mother passes away from a brain tumor. Allie’s sent across the country to live with an adopted mom, but she absolutely hates it. She really holds on to her grief and sadness and lashes out at everyone around her. But in time, and with the help of a childhood sweetheart, she learns to open her heart to love, faith, and family—even if it’s not the family she’s originally planned on.

What inspired your book?
I mentioned earlier that I started writing Interrupted after my uncle passed away from a brain tumor when I was thirteen. I’m very close to his two daughters, my cousins, and it was the most painful thing ever to see them suffering. I didn’t understand why God would let him die, and my faith was very shaken during that time. So I started writing about this character that acted a lot like me, and thought along some of the same lines. But as the story progressed, God really used it to minister to my own heart and heal me from my own bitterness. So it’s a very special book for me, in a lot of ways.

Do you have any advice for other aspiring authors?
Write about what makes you happy! If a story and its characters are close to your heart, then it will just feel right. The writing will flow naturally. You won’t feel pressured to make this better or to change that. I almost envy those of you who don’t have the stress of book contracts weighing you down. Because you don’t have to worry about what anyone else thinks. You can just be true to yourself and write about whatever you want. Always hold on to that freeness, and don’t let anyone take it away from you. Write for God’s glory and your own enjoyment, and embrace every minute of it!

Thanks for stopping by, Rachel!  My lovely readers, stay tuned for more author interviews during the party, as well as my review - and a giveaway! - of Interrupted in early January.

Eggless Recipe Giveaway!

Yesterday I told you all about Cookery Expressions, a company in India run by a woman named Sharmila who offers several different baking and sweets-related classes.  Today she's offered to share one of her amazing eggless recipes with one of my lovely readers!

Email readers, don't forget to come to the original post to enter the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eggless Banana Muffin Recipe Review

I recently shared with you, my lovely readers, the site Bloggerdise which I recently discovered.  One of the companies I found through this free site is Cookery Expressions.

Classes on Chocolate Making, Classic Muffins, Bread Baking, Cupcakes, Eggless Cakes, Cookies, Cake Decorating and Sugar Craft

COURSES OFFERED: 

1. Chocolate Making - 1 day workshop

2. Bread Baking – 1 day workshop

3. Eggless Cake Baking - 2 day workshop

4. Liqueur Chocolate Making - 1 day workshop

5. Cake Decorating - 3 day workshop

6. Sugar Craft - 1 day workshop

7. French & Belgium Chocolate Making - 2 day workshop

8. Designer Cup Cakes - 1 day workshop

9. Crispy Cookies - 1 day workshop

10. Exotic Brownies - 1 day workshop

11. Classic Muffins - 1 day workshop

Call 9560600056 now and REGISTER for the workshops.

Venue: Sector 7, Dwarka, New Delhi

It's run by a woman in India, Sharmila, who offers classes on cooking and baking; most of her foods and recipes are eggless, which is very popular today.  On her website you can see literally hundreds of photos of goods she and/or her students have made, all of which are beautiful - and make me hungry!  (http://cookeryexpressions.weebly.com/)

If you live in or plan to visit New Delhi, India, I encourage you to look into her classes.  Along with the photos, you can see detailed information about each course she offers on her website.  (Just keep scrolling through the photos until you reach an all-text portion.)  The bottom of the page has a contact form.

Obviously, my taking classes or even her mailing me something to try would be impossible/impractical.  So instead Sharmila emailed me a recipe for her banana muffins, which my family had for breakfast last weekend.

The recipe she gave me made a dozen muffins, so I made six with chocolate chips and six without (the recipe doesn't say anything about chocolate, but I always make my banana bread with chocolate chips.)  Everyone but my mom, who never eats banana stuff, thought the muffins made a great breakfast.  My dad and Eddie commented on the fact that they tasted a bit heavy for muffins, like bread, and I noticed it too.  They didn't rise up quite like muffins, either.  This is all normal for eggless baking, though.

All in all I was very pleased with the recipe and really, really wish I could have another, possibly even one of her amazing-looking desserts.  You, lovely readers, might still be able to - because tomorrow one reader will have the chance to win an exclusive recipe from Cookery Expressions!  Don't miss it!

You Should Try NaNo If... {guest post}

Today my blogger friend Sarah is here to talk about NaNoWriMo, the event which takes over my blog - and several other writers' blogs - for a month each year.

Hey everyone!  Thanks everyone so much for having me on this wonderful blog.  I want to thank Emily especially!  Her blog is one of my favorites in the way it combines life, God, and writing.

If you've been watching (Maybe) Teen Author (which should be renamed Future Teen Author because I'm almost positive Em will be published before she turns twenty) then you know that last month something insane happened.  Something called NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month.  A ton of writers from around the world sat down and wrote 50,000 words in 30 days.  If you break that down, it comes out to 1667 words a day.  That's no small sum!

So maybe you've been following some blogs that cross the line from books into writing and you've seen a few of the "I Survived 50K" blog posts.  Maybe a little nagging voice on one shoulder is saying that you should go for it next November.  But then, on the other shoulder, a voice is hissing "No. You're not good enough. You don't know enough about writing. 1667 words is WAY too many to cram into your schedule."  I thought the same thing this time last year when I saw all the "I Won NaNo Posts."  There was no way I could do it.

And then, on November 30, 2012, I did.

So here's my guide.  Should you or should you not attempt NaNoWriMo 2013?

You Should Attempt If . . .

1. You did it last year and got at least half of your word count goal.
2. You've written at least one 50,000 word novel before, no matter how long it took.
3. You really, REALLY want to even though your parents think you're insane.  (This is me.)
4. You have the time.  If you have some extra time every November and think you might want to do NaNo, I say go for it.  At the very least you'll have one word of a novel you didn't have before.

You Shouldn't Attempt If . . . 

1. You want to be a writer but have never written a book.  I think NaNo might just burn you out.  It's hard, and if you don't know what it feels like to write a book, NaNo might make you think it's that insane every time.  And then you might not write again.  Which might make me cry. :)
2. You seriously don't have time.  Family, friends, grades, jobs, eating, and sleeping are still important.  If doing NaNo would be bad for your health because it would take up one of the two hours you have left to sleep, don't try it.

I think that's it.  I'll be lurking in the comments if you have any questions.  Thanks Emily and happy Blogoversary!

Sarah Faulkner is a teen writer and reader in the eastern midwest, USA.  She's one of six kids, and she's currently in high school.  Her favorite things include Francesca Battistelli albums and books by Alex Rider.  You can find her at her blog, Inklined.

Etsy Double Giveaway!

More presents!  I decided to start off with the gifts this year.  After all, that's what kids start with on Christmas morning, right?

Today you, my lovely readers, have a chance to win a small lined moleskin notebook with a hand-drawn White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, donated by the owner of Orchids Heart, and/or a surprise gift from the owner of Space Pearls!

listing link

Here's the notebook!  It will look a bit different than this photo, but it's very similar.

Orchids Heart sells other Alice in Wonderland and personalized moleskin notebooks, as well as corsets, wrist cuffs, and fingerless gloves.

Here are some of the products Space Pearls sells:

Alice in Wonderland "Simply Alice" Charm Necklace

Hunger Games "Mockingjay" Necklace

Fairytale "Mermaid's Locket" Necklace

"I Love You" Bows and Hearts Earrings

Fairytale Pink Rose Ring

Once again, email readers will have to come to this post to enter the giveaway.  Please keep in mind that two separate giveaway forms means that you must enter each giveaway separately if you want to enter both; however, feel free to only enter one if you desire.  Naturally, two separate forms also means it's possible for the same person to win both presents.  That would be one lucky reader!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway


P.S. To all my readers who came for the pre-party surprise giveaway, sorry about all the "Invent your own option!" buttons.  It was the first Rafflecopter giveaway I've run properly and I'm still learning.  :S