Ang's Top Five Books Read This Year (So Far)

It's June, my friends. Summer is right around the corner. And I have decided to take a moment to reflect back on what I have read this year (so far)! I am guilty of getting to the end of the year and barely remembering the books that I kicked off the year reading. No. More! This month's top five is five books I read this year (from January to April) and loved! In no particular order they are:

The Reaper's Bride by A.J. Richmond

goodreads

Full review on my blog here.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

goodreads

My GoodReads Review:

Who knew Ocean's Eleven meets

an epic fantasy novel

was what my life was missing?!

Not me. And what a fool I've been!

Man, this book was good.

Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

goodreads

My Goodread's review:

Haven't read a vampire book in a hot minute.

But I'm pretty sure this is my new favorite.

Goooood gravy, I want a monster of my own now too!

A Symphony of Dragons by Lisa Shambrook

goodreads

Full review on my blog here.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
goodreads

My GoodReads Review:
Boasting an innovative plot and compelling characters,
A Curse So Dark and Lonely is a captivating re-imagining
of the Beauty and the Beast fable.
The pages flew by despite the book's length,
making it a quick, enjoyable read.

You can find the complete list of books I have read here.

What books have been your favorite this year (so far)?
Are you on GoodReads? If so, are we friends?!
Did you know I have two GoodReads pages: author and reader?
Happy June, my friends!

A Book Review: The Reaper's Bride (The Reaper Chronicles)

This month's book review is author A. J. Richmond's debut novel The Reaper's Bride. I had the opportunity to read the novel before publication, my friends. Now that it's out I want to share with the universe how much I enjoyed The Reaper's Bride! Let me tell you all the reasons why you need this book in your life!

goodreads
amazon

Book Description: It’s not an easy task ushering souls to the afterlife—just ask James the Reaper. When he stumbles upon 83-year-old Molly at a funeral, he realizes she has the uncanny ability to see into the secret world of reaping souls.

James must convince Molly of her talent and entice her to join him as a recruit. But if he thinks this task is without its challenges, he’s sorely mistaken. Molly’s best friend, Mildred, wants in too. Unlike Molly, Mildred is a sharp-tongued, politically incorrect senior who lacks the empathy and tact to make it as a successful recruit.

With Molly’s natural abilities at guiding souls, James is determined to add her to his growing network—even if it means taking on Mildred.

He must ensure that Mildred fulfills her reaping contract without further angering the Gods and losing control of his reaping empire. Although Mildred seems hell-bent on making mischief for James, Molly isn’t so innocent herself. She must outwit both James and Mildred to get what she truly wants.

A suave reaper, two cantankerous elderly ladies, and a melange of dead souls make up the quirky cast of The Reaper’s Bride.

Ang's Review: Molly and Mildred are funeral crashers. They get off on bad funerals and mocking the deceased person’s loved ones. The tackier the flowers and the slimier the pickles the better.

Enter James: the Grim Reaper. Not a grim reaper, not death, but THE one and only Reaper.

Death keeps James busy. So busy he’s hired living people to help him reap souls. When he learns that Molly can see departing souls he is desperate to get her on his crew. Death is busy, and James is barely hanging on. The plan seems foolproof. But there are a few unforeseen problems: pesky Spain, a bunch of pissed off gods, and the biggest problem of all—Mildred.

A. J. Richmond’s The Reaper’s Bride kept me on my toes from page one. Pack with a heavy dose of snark and heart wrenching moments, The Reaper’s Bride is a quick, clever read. Weaved throughout the story of two bitter old women and one over taxed Grim Reaper is a rich back history that begs to be explored. I could not put this book down. And I cannot wait for the second book in The Reaper Chronicles series. A. J. Richmond has become one of my go-to, must-buy-right-meow authors.

Follow A.J. Richmond on Twitter and Instagram.
Make sure to check out her website.
And pick up your copy on Amazon today!

UPDATE: The Reaper's Bride giveaway is now closed!
Winner was announced.
Thank you to everyone who entered!
Follow my Instagram account for more bookish giveaways coming soon!

Bonus: Check out my Instagram Giveaway for The Reaper's Bride!
I am giving away one paperback copy.
Rules to enter are here.

March: A Month Of Rain, Renewal, And Reading.

The renewal of my bookish ways is freeing. There are countless reasons I stopped book blogging (some make sense, others not so much). None of the reasons matter now. Because I'm moving forward! And it is everything. Here are a few highlights!

On My E-Reader:

I'm in love with my new blog feature On My E-Reader. There are so many amazing books on my kindle I haven't read yet! The first two books I shared Marianne Hansen's The Unscripted Life of Lizzy Dillinger and Ainsley Wynter's  Kissed at Midnight (The Lost Royals) are debut novels I'm bonkers excited about. If you haven't checked them out, what are you waiting for?! Do. It.

Beta Reading:

Over the last few months I have beta read some great stories. Currently, I’m reading Lisa Shambrook’s The Seren Stone (book one of The Seren Stone Chronicles). It’s high fantasy at its best: dragons, mysterious stones, adorable talking not-lizards, and so much more. That I obviously can’t talk about since I’m beta reading and the book isn’t out yet. But I’d recommend following the lovely Lisa on Twitter and Instagram and all the places for publishing news and cover reveals and all the awesome to come!

The Reaper's Bride:

Speaking of beta reading, last month I beta read Angie Richmond's debut novel The Reaper's Bride. You. Guys. It's so good. You want it on your to read list! Angie posted the book blurb on her website this weekend (alongside a quick Twitter review I wrote for The Reaper's Bride). Check out the book blurb here and watch for a full review of The Reaper's Bride (book one of The Reaper's Chronicles) on my blog in May 2019!

The Wicked King:

In more reading news: This weekend, I finished The Wicked King by Holly Black (book two of The Folk of the Air series). It's brutal and heartfelt and had me on the edge of my seat. If you're looking for a YA fairy fantasy that will leave you speechless look no further.

Looking Ahead!

There's so much bookish awesome to look forward to this year. From novels I can't wait to read (the final Caraval book, anyone?) to my writing (subscribe to my newsletter to stay up to date!) returning to my bookworm roots was a longtime coming. And it has not only inspired me, but helped me remember why I love writing and reading and yes, even publishing!

What books did you read this month? Got a favorite?

Is there a novel coming out later this year you're excited about?

Life Journaling: Derailment

Sometimes, you spend your whole week getting ready for a last minute trip to So. Cal. for a funeral and end up at home doing a three day juice fast instead. The hows and whys of your life's derailment are a big steamy pile of what the hell just happened.

You remember spending a mad forty-eight hours packing and ironing and running all the errands. You are not sure you ate, however you know beer was involved. Clearly, you remember packing up the car and shoving all four kids into it. You remember getting on the road and hitting up a gas station. But after that, things get dicey.

The battery light went off on the dashboard. The car died and was jump started, leading to a sweaty drive across town with the A/C off. Things get even more hazy as there was a tense discussion about what to do next. There is a vague memory of holding a flashlight so your husband could tighten a blot on your newly bought alternator and at one point you remember standing in an auto shop holding a dirty battery whilst wearing mix-matched socks and crazy eyes.

Then, there was thunder and lightening and a flash flood warning that reached across three States. Suddenly, you wake up. You are living out of a suitcase, but you are home. You are hungry and a bit confused and you decide the best thing to do is not eat for a few days.

Because that's what makes sense. Am I right?

As last weekend unraveled right before my eyes, I realized how similar it was to the last year of my life as a writer. As I have struggled to take myself seriously and find the diligence and fortitude needed to keep myself moving forward, I realized I have two options on this road to publication:

A. I can beat myself up over being derailed.

OR

B. I can accept it and move on.

For so long, I have been beating myself up. Unhappy with my pacing and focusing on the derailments, I have stalled. Life happens. It just does. There are many detours that will come along. But that does not mean we cannot continue forward, it just means we must be even more determined than before.

As this month of hard work and many a sleepless nights comes to an end, I am determined to keep my eyes focused forward, not on some obscure end result, but on the task at hand. One baby step at a time.

The task at hand, my friends, is to query. However, this time I realize the real challenge is going to be learning from the rejections, moving forward, and trying again.

Because in the indelible words of The Shins:

Life Journaling: Confidence

Confidence is a fickle friend. An overconfident person can be blinded by their brilliance. Unaware of their limitations, they are often lead astray by their ignorance of their own short comings. However, a lack of confidence can be more damaging, leaving a person stuck in an emo funk of nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I guess I'll go eat worms.

I'm honest enough to admit I'm one of the least confident people you'll meet. Now, this doesn't make me antisocial. Hell, I'll talk to a wall if it's interested in having a conversation. Please understand, I'm a somewhat health, socially functional member of society (for the most part).

What I am saying is when it comes to my life as a professional anything, I've got a case of the emos and I've got it bad. I downplay not only my strengths as a writer, but also as a individual. I assume I'm annoying and burdensome to others and tend to shy away from asking for help or offering help. All too often, I allow people to walk all over me taking without giving a single thing in return as they flush me down the toilet without a backward glance.

It ain't pretty. Frankly, I'm over it. The more I ponder the situation, the more I realize believing I'm the only person stuck in this never-ending cycle of self-loathing is cocky and ignorant. This belief that I am NOT alone and there are others out there dealing with this same lack of confidence only strengths my desire to get over myself.

To that end, I've been attempting to:

1. Acknowledge my negative attitude toward myself and create a positive one. 
This hasn't been done on my own, but with the help of the lovely Angie Richmond (aka life coach of amazeballzness). What appears to be a simple task has rocked my whole existence. For example:

Negative: I'm a burden to others and I shouldn't bother them. 
Positive: These are my friends and they genuinely want to help me.
Furthermore, by asking for their help, I am showing them I trust them.

Simple yet powerful.

2. Cultivate the healthy relationships in my life, while weeding out the diseased ones. 
This is easier said than done and it's taken me a long time to say no to unhealthy relationship. However, it's a MUST. These relationships are not only ones in the "real" world, but online as well. I don't want friends who puff me up with inflated praise. Yet, people who are only interested in using me for their own ends have got to go.

3. Stop over-saturating myself with the opinions of the professionals.
It is one thing to take the advice of well meaning and helpful professionals [and it's important, PLEASE don't get me wrong. Listen to the professionals!]. It is another thing to let it hold you hostage in a never-ending cycle of OH MY GAWD I'M DOING EVERYTHING WRONG. I have got to stop panicking every time I see a tweet from an agent talking about things they find annoying in their slush piles. Furthermore, I have to start trusting in my own opinion and the opinions of those around me.

4. I NEED to give credit to the opinions of those closest to me.
At some point, while looking up how to get publish online, someone will say to you: So you've written a novel and your best friend and your partner and your dog LOVE IT and think it's fan-freaking-tastic. That's great. It's not. Get back to work.

And I get it. Believe me, I do. However, I think it discredits the positive and constructive advice of those closest to you. Listen, my husband is my BIGGEST critic. He will tell me when something stinks and when he thinks something is good. Oh, the arguments we've had. To discredit his belief that my manuscript is good and publishable makes absolutely no sense. I should trust in him, first and foremost.

Which leads to the hardest of hards:

5. I MUST trust in myself and my ability.
Because this is what it ALL comes down to. At some point, I have to be comfortable with the thought that I believe I am a good enough writer to get published and that doesn't make me an egomaniac or insane or delusional. It makes me confident in my ability and confidence does not mean stuck up or proud or blind.

I do NOT believe I've written the next Pride and Prejudice. I do NOT believe I will be awarded a Noble Bell prize in Literature. However, I do believe I wrote a good book with an interesting plot and a lovely protagonist. I believe a lot of hard work and dedication will not only make it better but get it published.

In conclusion:

Writing is personal. It's challenging. The road to publication is filled with sinkholes and detours. At the end of the day, the one thing a writer needs to believe is that all this, the hair pulling and sleepless nights and aching wrists and self-doubt and panic, is worth it.

I'm confident it is.

Life Journaling: A Story About My Dad

I remember the day my step-mom called me and explained my dad needed to have a procedure done. They'd found a mass in his bladder. The doctor knew it was cancer without a single test. I went with them to the hospital. I held his hand. I hugged him. I told him he would get better or else I'd kick his ass.

We held onto hope. 

That was the last week of February 2012. Or was it the first week of March? I don't remember. It's a blur. On his birthday, March 12th, we got the news, it was cancer and it had likely spread. But we didn't know how badly. They'd have to rebuild his bladder. I told my mom. I told my brother and sisters. I told them our daddy had cancer, but his chances were good.

We held onto hope. 

He wasn't eating. My siblings and I got him a basket. We filled it with nuts and chocolate and dried fruit and juices and books on baseball. He had a catheter. He carried a bag of pee around with him. He was so thin. When I hugged him I thought he might break. He tried to eat, tried to laugh, tried to be normal.

We held onto hope.

I got the call. He'd gone to the ER. The pain was unbearable. His heart was palpitating. I rushed to the hospital. I sat with him. Alone. Me in a chair in the corner trying to stay out of the way of the nurses. Him in a bed, half asleep. Sometimes he'd wake up and looked at me. He'd say: I love you, Bonehead. And I'd say: I love you too, Daddy.

We held onto hope.

They moved my dad to the intensive care unit. The man in the room next door died that day. He looked so alone. The tests started. MRIs. X-rays.  Blood work. Fasting. Heart meds. Pain meds. The whites of my dad's eyes turned yellow. We had our favorite nurses. Our least favorite doctors. We took over the ICU. We hung pictures drawn by my kids and colored in coloring books. My nineteen year old sister wanted to sleep on the floor at night, she didn't want our father to wake up alone.

We held onto hope.

He had a good day. His eyes cleared and he promised he'd do everything he could to get better and we'd all go on a trip to see the Grand Canyon. He smiled and chuckled. He watched baseball and teased us.

We held onto hope.

We got the results. The cancer had spread. It was in his gallbladder, his lymph nodes, his lungs, his brain, and so many other places I can't remember them all. We called our extended family. We told them things had taken a turn.

We still held onto hope.

Tuesday evening. I went to visit my father after settling the kids. I had a few new pictures they'd drawn for their Poppa. The room had become familiar. Beeps. Flashing lights. Tubes. IV lines. But the man in the bed, he was different. He struggled to breathe. His skin like paper, eyes bulging.  I said, "Hey, Daddy. Bet you've missed me." He looked at me as if I were a stranger. I knew-- knew in my very soul...

There was no hope. 

He crashed that evening, alone in his room. They shoved a tube down his throat. Pumped him with meds. His eyes wouldn't close. His feet were ice cold. A machine breathed for him. Medications kept his heart pumping. We gathered around his bed. We had to decided what to do. I held my baby sister close to me and watched my fifteen year old brother clutch our dad's hand. My grandmother kissed my father's head, said she was the first woman to kiss him and by God she'd be his last. We prayed. We sang songs. We decided to let him go.

....

On March 28, 2012, my father died of cancer. It happened suddenly. One moment, he was running marathons and laughing louder than any other living soul and the next he was laying in a hospital bed dead. Before my very eyes, I watched my father take his last breath.

Why am I tell you this? Why have I decided to share this with *strangers* online?

I don't know.

Sometimes, I feel like the cancer that killed my father wormed its way inside me, craving out a little piece of me. Maybe if I let it go, release it into the wild, I can start to breathe again. Maybe I can let go of the guilt. The guilt of him not knowing about all of this. The guilt of living when he's not. The guilt involved with life having continued and it not being unbearable without him.

I naively thought there'd be a day when all this would be a distant memory and I'd have to force myself to remember. But the truth is, I will never forget. The real challenge is living with the memory and allowing myself to move forward without the guilt or the regret or the fear or the envy I have of those who get to share all this with their fathers when I don't.

And as I sit here and cry and type these words, it is my humblest prayer, that these mixed up, morose memories will find a place where they can rest and allow me to move forward. Because that's what my Dad would have wanted, but more importantly, it's what I want too.

When In Doubt Call In The Professionals!

If you've known me for any length of time you might have noticed one of my life mottoes is:

LEAP BEFORE YOU LOOK! 

While there are benefits to this type of thinking, there are also a multitude of drawbacks, including but not limited to flailing, screaming, hair pulling, foaming at the mouth, and, in general, chaos.

Now, I'm not knocking chaos. As the mother of four, my wheelhouse is insanity. However, when one is in search of their dreams, Crazy Town might be a good starting point, but remaining there ain't the best plan.

If I'm honest, Crazy Town is my home address. I like it here. It's comfy. Over the last year and a half-ish, I've entrenched myself in doubt, fear, hair pulling, mouth foaming, and loooots of screaming. I'm realizing I need to reign in a wee bit of the chaos. I need a lil rhyme and reason. Thus, it's time I've said:

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

LET'S GET SOME REASON UP IN HERE.

But how?

*crickets*

I've felt helpless, lost, and stalled for a while now (hell, if I'm honest, for most of my *adult* life), yet the desire to DO SOMETHING has been strong. Even stronger is my desire to write and work toward publication. I long to make my dream a reality. The simple truth is:

I canNOT do it alone. 

I did NOT write my novel alone.

It has NOT been made stronger alone. 

And I WILL NOT get it published alone. 

These are facts.
Not me being emo or silly or jaded.

So, I've called in a professional (God help her!) and procured meself:

THE LIFE COACH OF AMAZEBALLZ!!!

Who be said life coach?

Angie Richmond

This is me basking in the awesome that is Angie, by the by.

Some of you are well versed in the awesomeness that is Angie. Other's might find her name familiar as I have often sang her praises here on the blog. For those who have not met Angie, I shall give you this warning: you ARE a breath away from falling in love. #truth

Over the next month, my plan is to soak up all the goodness I can from Angie and I do so promise to share my journey here on the blog. We started last Thursday and already I have SO MUCH to report! 

From why I chose to work with a life coach to what I've learned about myself along the way, I pinkie promise to keep these posts honest giving the good, the bad, and the not so GRRREEEEAT! 

I KNOW Angie can't fix me. I KNOW Angie can't get my novel published. BUT what I do know is that if I am WILLING to work hard and learn from her EVERYTHING I can over the next month then I WILL be all that closer to achieving my goal. 

How sweeeeet the sound!
Ya dig!

------------------------------------------------

All About Angie Richmond:

A self proclaimed creative, I divide my time between writing, blogging, reading and creating art. My formal education in psychology combined with my desire to help others find the career they love, has led me to explore a career in coaching. I love hockey, adore all things British and can be found singing and dancing in my kitchen while making dinner. I live with my incredibly talented, drum-playing husband, Brandon in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (taken from website) 

Website Facebook Twitter Email

Kreativ Blogger Award

It's party time, friends, cause I got tagged

not once, not twice, not three times (a lady)

but you guessed it four times!

My cup runneth over!

What did I get tagged in?

And who be these amazing tagging fools?

 Lisa of The Last Krystallos

Angie of Write Me Happy

Stacy of A Jar of Fireflies

Sara of Leggy's Many Sides

A very berry heartfelt thank you to all!

Dear Reader, 

Please make sure to check out 

these awesome bloggers/writers/supporters/friends.

You will not regret it!

I do so swear.

Now onto the shenanigans!

The Rules:

1. Thank & link back to the person who nominated you.
2. Answer the ten questions.
3. Share ten random facts/thoughts about yourself.
4. Nominate seven worthy blogs for the Kreative Blogger Award.

The Questions:

1. What's your favorite song?
Okay, blah blah blah, there is no WAY I could pick a favorite song. But what I can do is give y'all a list of the Top Five Songs I Listen To On Repeat Of Late.

1. Cameras -- Matt & Kim
2. Of Minor Prophets -- David Bazan
3. Keep it Together -- Guster
4. We Are Young -- fun.
5. Magic -- B.O.B. ft. Rivers Cuomo *

*theme song aka the get pumped song

2. What's your favorite dessert?
My favorite dessert tends to change on a whim, yet chocolate is almost always involved.

This month's dessert of choice:

Nom.Nom.Nom.

3. What ticks you off?
The word swag. It's just not a good word. sssssW-aaag. *shudders* I've got beef with the creator of this horrid word.

4. What do you do when you're upset?
Become a blotchy mess of rashness and feel all tongue tied. The mister always knows when I'm upset because I get freakishly quiet. A poker player, I am not.

5. Which is your favorite pet?
A hedgehog. His name was Herbie. He shall always be miss.

*raises a bottle of Jack* 

*pours out a fifth*

*bows head*

6. Which do you prefer: black or white?
I like black sharpies and white chalk.

7. What is your biggest fear?
Losing one of my not so lil cuties. We've had some touch and go moments with a few of them, and let me just say, Not.A.Fan.

8. What is your attitude mostly?
I tend to be overly positive toward others. The kind of positive that is so disgusting it makes a person want to vomit. Now, as far as my attitude toward myself, in general, I'm self deprecating emo in the corner.

What can I say? When you've got two brains (a medically proven fact) things get complicated.

9. What is perfection?
I'm not one for perfection. Give me messy, loud, and out of control any day of the week. Perfection makes me nervous and leery.

10. What is your guilty pleasure?
The Vampire Diaries. There. It's out. Phew.

The Random Facts:

1. I am obsessed with socks, long socks, short socks, slipper socks, striped socks, socks, socks, socks. I want them ALL!

2. I despise ketchup. Just the scent of it makes me physically ill. It's something I've learned to deal with in a world covered in condiments.

3. In general, I am not an animal lover, but I am a vegetarian (who eats fish sparingly) so I feel it evens out.

4. My dad's nickname for me was Pinhead. He used my head as a target when golfing in the winter time. It explains a lot about me as an individual.

5. When I was in junior high I came up with the pen name--
                                                                                 wait for it--
                                                                                         Ivory Nights.

6. I have one tattoo and it took me a decade to commit to it. It runs along the inside arc of my right foot and is a quote from one of me and the mister's songs.

7. I enjoy being bundled up and wear long sleeves pretty much everyday, even when it's 118 degrees outside.

8. I've always wished I was Canadian, and I have Anne of Green Gables to thank for that.

9. If I could eat guacamole everyday, all day long, I would. *heaven*

10. The whole time I've been answering these questions my youngest has been hanging on my back whispering random questions into my ear. It's awesome.

The Nominations:

Kim -- @citygirlinAK
Sara -- @reraveling
Carrie -- @onebookishmom
Jen -- @cupcakegirly
Rachel --  @rebunting
Zoe --  @ZoeHarrington_
Bonnie --  @missbonnie13

The Lucky Seven Meme

Hey howdy hey, party people.

Just shy of a month ago

the loveliness that is Angie Richmond

of Write Me Happy tagged me in a meme post.

My motto in life is better late than never,

so let's get this party started, shall we?!

Here's how the meme works:

Go to page 7 or 77 of your current MS/WIP
Go to line 7
Copy down the next 7 lines, sentences or paragraphs and post them as they are written.
Tag 7 authors and let them know.

 Since I am all about loving the one your with,

I've decided to post an excerpt from a story I wrote

just last Friday based on a dream I had a few weeks ago.
I decided to do seven paragraphs.
p.s. This is barely editing and smack dab in the middle of a scene.
Have fun.

Darcy and Gideon—unable to see more than a foot in front of them—shuffled down the steep stairs, testing each step as they descended into the darkness. The weight of Violet on her back pressed into Darcy and she feared tripping. The end of the staircase brought them to a doorway made of dirt, rocks, and tree roots. They walked through the threshold and entered a cavern. The ground and walls were made of packed earth. Roots and stones jutted out of the walls. The scent of decaying vegetation filled the space and made it hard to breath.  Dust filled Darcy’s nose and mouth. She glanced above her and stifled a scream.  A man and woman hung from the ceiling. The man dressed in a tux complete with gloves and a top hat. The woman wore a long gown of white shredded at the hem. Their feet were bare. Skeletal in appearance, their glowing faces were as sharp and angular as the mysterious man the children had followed.

“They are the guardians,” the man said gaining Darcy’s attention.

“The guardians of what?” she asked.

“Of this world and the next,” he said. With a sweep of his arm a door appeared in the wall of the cavern. “They have agreed to allow you four children entrance, but they have rules you must abide by.”

“Rules?” Darcy asked.

“You are not to eat or drink anything beyond this door,” the man said.

“But how will we…” Gideon began.

Annnnnd time! 

Now onto the fun part.

*rubs hands together*

Alright, folks!

Ready. Steady.

TAG YOU'RE IT!!

1. Mindy Sue
2. Lisa Shambrook
3. Meg McNulty
4. Jessica Grey
5. Sarah
6. Kerry Freeman
7. Laura Huntley

22 Things - Take Two

Recently, my life was put on hold.

When you're in the thick of things

it's easy to get derailed. 

That's what happened to me.

This train is one hundred percent off the track,

cars haphazardly laying about,

engines stalled,

passengers wandering amongst the wreckage aimless,

conductor without a clue what to do next.

As I sit here,

I remember where I was headed,

I'm just not sure how to clean up this mess

and get back to chugging along. 

Then it hit me--

22 Things!

And I couldn't think of a better way 

to start piecing my life back together.

What's 22 Things?

In summation:

The 22 Things Creative Change Challenge

is being hosted by Angie Richmond of Write Me Happy

    22 Things is a Creative Change Challenge. By signing up, you are announcing to the world - and more importantly yourself - that you are breaking free of the long standing idea that in order to make changes in your life, you have to do BIG things. 22 Things is about making a list twenty-two small steps you can take - right now - to change your life.

 You are more than welcome to peruse my original post

and Angie's post for more information and awesome lists.
In fact, I highly recommend doing so.

Now where was I?
Oh yes,

getting my life back on course.

So 22 Things seems a bit much to tackle right about now,

but five things...

Well now there's a number I can embrace.

So here's five lil things I'm gonna work on in the next month

and an update on what I've accomplished since March 14th.

1. call/text a family member everyday and tell them I love them

This simple task has brought me oh so much happiness

and made the last month do-able.

Tell a friend.

Tell your boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse/fish/whathaveyou!

Just spread the love.

2. take my vitamins everyday

I've been hit and miss with this one.

Mostly hit.
I'm putting it in my win column.

3. take a long walk once a week

While no walk ever seemed longer than the one from

my car to my dad's hospital room, I'm pretty sure it doesn't count.
Thus, the whole I'm gonna get out in the fresh air more often goal
 has been a ginormous failwhale.

This is one goal I'd like to make a reality in the next month.
In fact, why not start today?!

4. stop being afraid of editing Fluff, Nonsense, & Other Emo Crap (title copy written)

Still haven't edited this beaut.

The plan Stan?
To read it for the first time in a two months next week.
Starting Monday.

yerp.
Here's how I see it,
I want this story to be the best of me,
so why would I rush it?

5. do at least one page in Wreck This Journal a week. 

This is a new one.

The awesomeness that is my bestie gave it to me whilst she was visiting.

It goes against everything I am to wreck a book

yet I'm wondering if it's just what the doctor ordered--

a little creative destruction.

We shall see.

So there they are,

the five little things I'm gonna work on for the next month.

I already feel a tad bit more in control.

Just a tad.

It's a start.

Five for Friday

It's Friday.
This week's been a week.
Let's sum it up, shall we?

1. This week in the Twitter-dom.

Dasia continues to make my heart happy with her wonderment:

Rachel and I continue our quests for WORLD DOMINATION, which works hand in hand with Marie, Kim, and I'z plan for galactic domination.

Keep the hashtag alive!

Daniel starts the Tea Corruptors Guild with Sara and I.

We are accepting applications.

I learned of Anna's #tweetofdoom, which frankly both excited and scared the hell out of me.

p.s. I missed said #tweetofdoom
Frankly, I'm not sure my heart can handle such a tweet.
For now, I think I'll let the anticipation continue to build.

Annnnnnd lastly, the bestie approved of my reading adventures.

Isn't she adorable?! 

Want in on a not so super secret? 

WE ARE A WEEK AWAY FROM MEETING IN THE FLESH!!!

 Errrr... 

that sounded way creepier than I intended. 

Moving along. 

2. This week in reading.

Speaking of reading,

I read:

goodreads's page

A Million Suns is the sequel to Across the Universe

and it is overall a fun times read.

If you like Sci-Fi with a dash of mystery and romance

then I think you just.might.likey.

A quick warning:

It's a little slower than the first book

and I wanted to punch Amy a few times

for doing and saying things that made no sense to me.

Those two things aside,

what I find most exciting about this series is its unique setting.

In Summation: Rent it. Read it. Tell me what ya thunk.

3. This week in meme-thingies.

Just in case ya missed it,
I joined in on Angie Richmond of the blog Write Me Happy
22 Things Creative Change Challenge.
I encourage y'all to check it out and join in.
I have a good feelin' 'bout this one.  

If you are interested,

you can find my list here.

4. This week in writing.

I wrote my first ever fairy or faerie or whatever story.

 It's just shy of 4,000 words and it made my heart happy.

In fact, the only reason I wrote it 

was for the aforementioned

happy heart.

It was amazeballz--
the writing,

possibly the story too.

 

5. This week in things that made me smile.

And finally, this week was one for the record books, 

in which I received epically bad news 

and was in desperate need of some funniez. 

The interweb always doth provide.

 Keep your noses clean 

and your toes jam free, my friends.

Until next week,

I'll see ya on the flippy flop.

22 Things

Most of ya know I've got a thing for the number 5.

It's a nice round number and it keeps me sane.

Don't question my logic.

It's sound.

I swear.

Today I'm risking it all and breaking with my tried and true

bloggy commitment to write only lists of five.

For those just tuning into this weekly program,

that's three years of blogging and never once breaking the rule of five.

Why am I risking possible webernet Armageddon?

 Because I found this wonderful new meme-thingy

and I just had to join it.

What it is?

The 22 Things Creative Change Challenge
by one Angie Richmond of the blog Write Me Happy

What's 22 Things all about?
I'll let Angie explain in her own words:

22 Things is a Creative Change Challenge. By signing up, you are announcing to the world - and more importantly yourself - that you are breaking free of the long standing idea that in order to make changes in your life, you have to do BIG things. 22 Things is about making a list twenty-two small steps you can take - right now - to change your life.

 It's such a simple realization
and yet one so easily forgotten.
When faced with my BIG goals,
I personally tend to go all freak-out mode
and try to do far too much all at once,
thus causing overload in me brain-brain,
which sparks feeling of helpless and a lack of control.
 cue: self-deprecation followed by an inability to do anything

The whole reason I started fresh,
the whole reason I've created this blog,
is to work toward squashing all my emo-mumbo-jumbo
and live out my dream of being a writer.
Not becoming one, cause I am one, but being one,
there's a difference and I'm finally seeing that!
The aim isn't to be a published writer
(although wouldn't that be grand?!)
but one of those people who sit down every day
and spin their little tales creating worlds
and people only they can dream up.
That's what I want.
BUT most importantly,
when I tell people who I am,
the real deal-e-o,
I want to be able to say it with pride
and not blush and mumble something incoherent,
a never-ending apology about who I am.

Angie's 22 Things a Creative Change Challenge is just the thing for me.
And I strongly believe it's not just for me,
but for everyone, whether a writer or an accountant
we all have dreams,
all have things we want to make happen,
and all have those freak-out moments of but-how-do-I-make-this-happen.

Angie is not only giving us a few tips on how to make changing our lives easier,
but for those of us willing to put ourselves out there she is providing a place
to talk, to share, to dream, to encourage, to change together.
How fan-freaking-tastic is that?!
And YES, I am totes tearing up!
*lightweight*

Also, her name is purdy freaking fabulous,
earning her solid street cred, no doubt.

When I think of my BIG goals
I know the best way to reach them is by:

1. surrounding myself with people who are supportive
 and share the love by supporting them
2. learn to take care of myself and treat myself with more respect
3. get over my fears and insecurities
4. strengthen my skillz of a writer
5. meet other writers by networking, joining in,
and, in general, supporting them

 The following are 22 lil steps I could take
in an effort to achieve my goal.

The List

1. read a lil everyday
2. write a lil everyday
3. call/text a family member everyday and tell them I love them
4. read a book with my littlest cutie everyday
5. stretch in the morning and the evening 
6. take my vitamins everyday
7. stop being afraid of editing Fluff, Nonsense, & Other Emo Crap (title copy written)
8. find ways to break free from feeling small (i.e. grow a pair)
9. dance around the living room at least once a week
10. sing a song at the top of my lungs once a day
11. take a long walk once a week
12. take pride in my lil associate degrees (yes two thank.you.very.much!!) that took seven long hard years to earn
13. learn to embrace being a super sucky speller 
14. learn a new word and/or grammar rule once a week
15. make writing a priority in my life
16. accept the help of my mister even when I feel he's giving too much
17. listen to a new song once a week
18. make date nights a priority
19. instead of hoarding stories share them
20. make time for tweeting and blogging
21. turn off Twitter and iPhone for a few hours each day
22. take time to sit with a cup of tea and a notebook each day to daydream

They will not change the world,
but they just might change my life.
Most importantly,
they just might get me there,
ya know that place
far off in the distance
barely visible to the naked eye
where you've always longed to be
that feels right and just-like-home.
The place that scares you the most.
The place you long to be.
The place where you belong.
In the words of Thomas Edison--
"It's very beautiful over there."

Soooo...
What's your list?

p.s. Make sure to check out Angie's list and find links to participating goal setters by clickity clicking here.