Find the Story Friday ~ The Journey

First of all - I just wanted to thank everyone for their kind and encouraging words on Wednesday's post.  You prove my point time and time again - this blogger community ROCKS!!!  :)  As my daughter would say, "I <3 U!"

And so, as I was scrolling for pictures today, I came across this one:

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Writing/Publishing a novel ~ it's a LONG road.  Sometimes - it almost seems there is no end.  But, if you can just make it around that bend - hopefully what you see is a new path and a new adventure.  This applies to any goal, really.  Any dream.  And I'm happy to share the journey with AWESOME people like you.

Of course - for my writing friends out there,  you'll know that it's essential for your characters to make journeys as well.  Please share - What journey are/is you/your character taking right now??

And, as always, I wish you all a WONDERFUL weekend!  Happy Writing/Living ~ :) 

Find the Story Friday ~ OCTOBER!!!

Ok, well I might be a little early for October...(just a day, though - c'mon, now!)  But, it's a month I happen to LOVE!

The weather is nearly perfect.  My mountains are absolutely gorgeous with all the fall colors!  And there's one or two days this month that I can go out in public looking like death and totally get away with it!! :)  I'll admit - I'm a sucker for anything Halloween-related.  I've got Haunted House night planned with my favorite gal pals.  I'm planning to get tickets to a fun Witchapalooza dinner theater.  CORN MAZES!!  Let me tell you - they're a BIG DEAL in Utah!  A local dance company does a production called "Thriller" that's absolutely amazing!  There's fall festivals, pumpkin patches, Witches Night Out, Oktoberfests ~ so much fun.

So, here's my pic of the day ~

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Does this picture evoke some spooky fun in you??  Any Halloween/Fall stories to tell?  Please share!!

And, as always, wishing you much happiness and a Fabulous Fall Weekend!!  Enjoy!

Find the Story Friday ~ I know what I did last Summer...

:)  Today, Michael at In Time... is hosting the "What I did on My Summer Vacation Blogfest"!!!!

Click here to see ALL the participants!!!

Well, those of you who've been around for a few of my recent Find the Story Friday posts will already know about my trip to Canada.  Yep - that was the family vacation this year.  And I'll have to admit...I sort of make a bee-line for the local cuisine when I go on vacation:



Poutine!!!

  

Ok...not exactly "local" but the schnitzel was divine!!


 

Sweets are a must...it's inevitable


And you simply can't go into the National Parks of Canada and not see some of the local wildlife:



Ahhh, look at all the babies!!!! :)



 And if you're ever in Banff...you ABSOLUTELY MUST GO to the Banff Springs (haunted) Hotel!  So cool:

My niece (left) and daughter (right) - gorgeous girls!!

And, of course, the scenery all around is just absolutely gorgeous:

The mysterious Hoo Doos...

Brrrrrrr....

I usually throw a few more little trips into my summer plans - hit a few farmer's markets, festivals, there's the 4th of July with friends and family, etc.  There's always something!!  And I try to go somewhere different, some place I've never been before, each and every year.  Southern food is calling my name lately...does anyone know of a nice place to stay down South???

What did you do on your summer vacation?

Happy Friday, all!

Find the Story Friday ~ Jury Duty....

I have been the worst blogger friend EVER!!!  Lately...  My sincere apologies for not visiting you all like I want to.  My intention is that will change...as soon as possible.  :)

Anyhow...I'm curious today ~ have any of  you seen one of these in action?
 

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I've spent the last day and a half serving my first stint as a juror.  It's an interesting process!  Kind of funny ~ after we watched the introduction video and were taken into the courtroom, I found it interesting that the potential jurors were actually randomly selected by the clerk picking names out of a box.  I figured I was safe, for sure!!  When it comes to drawings....my name is NEVER pulled!  The universe is funny that way...apparently my name is only never pulled when a cool prize is at stake.

And even then - there was a 50/50 chance that the lawyers would pass on me, too.  Nope.  I must have an objective face or something...?? :)   After initially hoping I'd get out of it, however - I found the process interesting and felt a bit jipped today when they held us in the holding room for 3 hours only to tell us later that the lawyers worked out a plea agreement.  I didn't get to deliberate or come to a decision at all!!!  Ah, well.  A learning experience, none-the-less.

Have any of you ever been called to perform your civic duty in a courtroom?

Anyhow, Don't forget to check out my MONARCH review and chance to win the ARC by clicking HERE.  Contest ends midnight, tonight!

And I hope you all have a FABULOUS weekend!!!

Find the Story Friday ~ Today is a gourd day!

I love autumn.  It's my favorite season of the year.  And I know we're not quite there, yet...  But, September does herald the season in.  I can't wait to cruise through the mountain passes and take in the canvas of burnt leaves all around me.  The picture I have for you today isn't of fall leaves, but of something else that also reminds me of autumn ~

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I'm not sure this picture does them justice ~ the vibrancy of color, the mishmash of unique shapes is what drew me to this bin of gourds in the first place.  Somewhere in there, a disembodied arm is giving me the thumbs up!  :) 

What do you see?

And here's me wishing you all a glorious Labor Day Weekend!!  Of just a good old weekend for my out of country friends ~ :)  Happy Friday!



Find the Story Friday!!! When Nature's got my goat... :p

Hi, everyone!!  How's it going?  I hope all is well in your worlds ~ :)

OK...so, I'm flipping through more Canada pics (umm...yeah, I took a lot!) and I came across these photos of some mountain goats we had the pleasure to be near, as we drove through Kootenay National Park.  The males were separated from the females.  Perhaps these pics will help you see why?  (And guess - who's who?):

Dude!  What's up with that????  :D  In case you're not sure....the top pic is of the males - all majestic and slick looking.  Look at those BIG horns!!

The second pic...those stragglers with the grass on their faces and bad hair...umm, yeah.  The females.

Is it any wonder the cosmetic companies make a killing????  Sorry, gals - nature kind of screwed us.  It's the same for peacocks (those struttin' males with the big colorful tails!!!) and lions (I would KILL for a mane of hair that thick!) and humans, apparently.  My husband can roll out of bed, throw on some shorts and leave the house in a blink!  Me?

"I'll catch up with you in an hour, honey!!"   *sigh* 

(But, don't worry girls.  We tweak the right look and the men are putty in our hands...mwah, ha, ha, ha!!! >:x)

So, tell me - what would your story be about this?  (P.S. All those natural beauties out there that don't relate to this at all...this one's for you ~ :p )  (p.s.s. - but, I still love you all, of course!)

And, I hope you all have a BEAUTIFUL weekend!!

Find the Story Friday ~ Bear-ly there?

Happy Find the Story Friday ~ :)

Here's my pic of the week:

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Tip of the Day:  If you happen to be driving through a National Park and you see a bunch of cars off to the side of the road?  PULL OVER!  :)  You just might see something like this.

We had the lucky fortune to catch a mama bear and her cubs strolling along a stretch of road as we drove through Kootenay National Park in British Columbia.  There's a third cub you can't see in this pic (I was driving...my husband and daughter got the better views...), but it was just so amazing to see, in person and (more or less) up close.

And it got me wondering about animals in stories.  Do you have any in yours?  I mention a neighbor's dog in passing in my current WiP, but that's about it.  But, if you think about it...they're kind of everywhere.  Chances are...your MC would run into an animal/bird/fish/etc. at some point.  Right?  :)  Some find the story Friday food for thought.

And with that ~ hope you all have a WONDERFUL weekend!!  I just found out that I get to meet fellow blogger and sister-from-another-mister Donna Weaver at my crit bootcamp tomorrow.  Woo hoo!

Find the Story Friday!! In which I give you some Poutine... :)

Happy Friday, everyone!!

So...clearly, if you're portraying real life in your novels...your characters are going to get hungry from time to time.  You are feeding them, right??

And if your character happens to be in Canada...he/she might enjoy a nice big plate of this:

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POUTINE!!  Nummy...fries, cheese and graaaavvvvyyy... :)

And when you do give your characters a little something to gnaw on...do you think about making it region specific?  Or time specific?  I'm sure a 12th century warrior in a fictional Kingdom would ultimately enjoy a bag of french fries, but...

So, tell me?  How well are you keeping your characters nourished?  Oh, really?  Prove it.  Give me a line from you current WiP/published novel that's all about the food.

And Eat well and prosper this weekend!

Find the Story Friday!!! It's all about the Atmosphere....

Happy Friday, everyone!!  I've got another pic for you from the illustrious Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel... :)  It was interesting to read every one's reactions to the other picture I posted last week (if you're into ghosts - please click here).

The "orb" was up for some debate... a speck of dust, instead?  Maybe.  (of course - you haven't seen my pics from the Salem cemetery...in the rain...)  Some said they hadn't heard of ghosts appearing as orbs in pictures.  Really?  I hear that all the time, actually!  :)  And I think everyone missed the creepy face that appears on my  niece's arm.  Oh, yes.  Look closely.  It's there.

But, whether or not the hotel is actually haunted - I have to say that part of its charm is the atmosphere.  There's a certain feel to things/places that make you sit up and take notice.  Is it a joyful place?  Peaceful?  Creepy?

And do you create this appropriate atmosphere in your stories?  If you're writing horror - are you using the right words and descriptors to set the scene?  To get that certain feel?  I sure hope so! 

And that's why I took this pic and decided to post it here today - it's TOTALLY atmospheric!

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Do you agree?  What kind of story does this atmospheric picture evoke in you?  Please share!!

And I hope you all have a fabulous weekend - in your atmosphere of choice!

Find the Story Friday!!! Do you believe in Ghosts?

Dun, Dun, Dunnnnnn.....

:)  Happy Friday, all!!

So, on my recent trip to Canada, the fam and I took a drive up to the town of Banff in Alberta.  For my Utah followers, I would have to say that Banff is akin to Park City.  Adorable little resort town in a beautiful setting.  The main draw to Banff, however, is that it is home to one of the world's top ten haunted hotels:  The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

And even if you're not into the whole haunted scene...the hotel is just INCREDIBLE to go and see anyhow.  It was built in the 1880's, it's GRAND (ummm....yeah, thought about staying there a night, but it was $400 a night and that was for the cheap, non-peak season room!!!!!), and heck!  Marilyn Monroe stayed there.  Seriously - they've got pics!

But, I went for the ghosts.  I can't say I'm a 100% believer.  I get the occasional creepy feeling.  I think I might have seen things in the past.  But, still - I've never seen anything move of its own accord.  I've never had an actual apparition float up to me and say "BOO!"  Still...I think my belief stems from my fascination about any supernatural anything and the possibilities that it might all be true. 

So, we went to the hotel.  We strolled.  We took pics.  And a voice recording... :)  Which, I haven't listened to yet...come to think of it.  And here's the one pic I got that might make me a true believer:

I hope you can see what I see.  The picture quality looks so much better on my camera...but, if you look at my niece on the right...big, fat ORB!  And if you look above the orb at her arm...well. 

Tell me - do you see what I see??  What's your best, possible ghost sighting?  Do tell.

Find the Story Friday!!! (Better late than never, right?) Fireworks and Lake Louise!!

OK, so I may be a tad late in posting this... (ahem.)  BUT - I'm still posting on the 15th, so it totally counts!!  How are you all, btw?  :)

So, it's Find the Story Friday.  And guess what?  You're actually going to find a story here on Friday!  I'm participating in Ali Cross's Independence Day Flash Fiction.  (click the link to check out other contestants, please!)  The challenge was to create a piece of flash fiction @ 250 words or less, with the prompt:  It's Independence day and something unexpected happens...

Here's my very thrown together attempt...(warning!!  Major suckage may follow...except for the picture, it's kind of cool...):

I'd watched fireworks in the park on the 4th of July for a long as I can remember. There were events that my family was absolutely required to do on certain holidays. And we never strayed far from home. Today marked the first time I'd spent the 4th away from home.


But, the fireworks show I was about to see was set up in the most picturesque spot. My feet dipped naked in a warm mineral pool. Pines and the tall, snow-capped Rockies flanked me on every side. As the sun dipped low, the lush greens turned a darker shade and torches lit up the perimeter of the resort. The air was a plethora of smell - fresh rain, leaves, smoky wood, pine, and sunblock. As the sky darkened, we heard the boom that signaled the "show" was about to begin.

The sky exploded in a rainbow of color and lit the tips of the trees with their various hues. The pool reflected colorful zigs and zags, spirals, spider-webs of light.

"It's stunning," I whispered to my husband.

So in awe were we that I didn't hear the screams until my back felt like it was on fire. The bear took another swipe at me, but my husband hauled me away. My body went limp in his arms and I marveled at the blood dripping down my arm and how it matched the color of the last firework exactly.  (239 words)

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Ok, now it's your turn.  I took this pic at the GORGEOUS Lake Louise in Banff National Park in (crap, can't remember if it's in B.C. or Alberta...the border's close, at any rate...).

Tell me how it make you feel?



Stunningly gorgeous, right???  :)  And certainly inspiring.  I hope it's inspired you today, and that you share a little of that inspiration with me in the comments.

And I hope you all have a FABULOUS weekend!!  :)

Find the Story Friday!!! Here comes the FLOOD.... and a winner!!

Happy Friday, all!!

You know, it's been a REALLY wet spring in Utah.  It seems as if every river/stream/ditch is looking to jump its banks lately ~ sand bags are dominating lawn decor ~ tractors are showing off what they're best at ~ homes and farmlands and even children are at risk, if the water gets too close.

I certainly don't want to make light the situation, but in the stories we write, our MCs inevitably face some kind of tragedy that affects them in more ways than one.  It could dictate conflict, it's usually an integral part to the character arc, it could set a whole story in motion.  Has a flood ever leaked into your story world?  Keep this in mind as you look at my find the story Friday pic of the week:

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What's happened here?

Close your eyes a moment, dig deep, and tell me a story about this picture.

I kind of hate to use that as a lead in to a prize announcement, but I did promise that today was the day...

The winner of my signed copy of POSSESSION is..............................................

Kari Marie!!!!

Congratulations, Kari!!!  Please e-mail me your address so I can get this book out to you right away!!  :)

No more tragedy talk ~ have a safe weekend and HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all the Dads out there!

Find the Story Friday!!!! A book...signed...

Happy Friday to all of you ~ my lovely, talented, kind, supportive, awesome fellow bloggers and writing friends!!  I feel like I've been distant lately ~ not visiting, commenting, or responding like I need to.  No excuses, here.  But, I am sorry... :(

Sadly, not sorry enough to keep me from bragging...a little... *semi-evilly laughs*

Here's a pic or two for the day:



A shiny new book!!  No really - it's shiny!



And it has an awesome signature in it!

I have the good fortune of living close to a cute little independent bookstore called The King's English, which just happens to be a local haunt for some awesome Utah authors.  They host several signing events and launch parties every year and I went to one on the 8th.  Any guesses who I met?  >:D  (you're seething jealousy about now, right?)

Can I just say - our reigning blog queen, query ninja, and lover of all things bacon gave the most inspiring, heartfelt, witty, fun, clever, touching, eloquent, charming and humble speech about her journey to publication and just what the launch and release of POSSESSION meant to her.  Ah, I kind of wished I'd taped it.  Elana Johnson's words - too cool.  I imagine myself tripping over my words with too many hmmms and uhhhs, but Elana didn't stumble once.  Should I be so lucky to publish and launch a book some day ~ I hope I can deliver my own words as seamlessly and as entertainingly as she delivered hers.

And can I also just say - the love in that room...wow.  She packed the house.  What an amazing support system she has in all her different worlds.  I'll admit, I'm a little jealous.  I'm sure her close friends would agree that it's a gift to be in Elana's inner circle of awesome.  I brought my daughter with me and she kept saying about Elana, "Wow, she's just so nice!"

Anyhoo!!  I'm almost positive that everyone who follows my blog has either already read an arc of POSSESSION, had pre-ordered it for delivery on the 7th, or rushed out last Tuesday to buy it and DEVOUR it!  But, just in case you haven't...??  I have a signed copy I'd like to give away.

Simple entry - (U.S. followers, only - so sorry!!)  1 - be a follower 2 - comment about a book signing you attended, or a rule you've broken in the past.

Easy peasy!!  I'll announce the winner next Friday - so comment away!!!  Have a FABULOUS WEEKEND!!

Find the Story Friday!!! TAG!

Happy Friday, all!!  First ~ your pic of the week:

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little snafu with my pic this week - but, I found this worthy one here.

Did you play TAG as a kid?  I remember playing kissing tag in 3rd grade... ;)  One of my first kisses came from a friend who found me huddled and hiding inside a big blue tractor tire on the playground.  I remember it seemed wet and sandy and, let's face it.  A little awkward.  3rd grade boys just don't quite know what to do with their mouths...yet (thank goodness!!).

Which reminds me - I've been TAGGED!!  Michael @ In Time tagged me first.  If you don't know Michael, he's seriously one of the nicest, most supportive, just darn awesome bloggers out there!  Go visit him NOW!  Pretty please?  And if you're in the mood for pics of some lovely beaches, please go visit my second very lovely tagger, Danette over at There's A Place I Dream About.

Ok - so a few questions to answer:

1.  Do you think you're hot?  HAHAHAHA!!  Oh, I'm not sure I can type an answer to this with a straight face...  unless you mean heat hot and then, yes.  Summer is not always my friend...

2.  Upload a picture or wallpaper you are using at the moment:  Ok - this if from my work PC: 

3. When was the last time you ate chicken?  Yesterday - chicken and black bean burrito from Taco Time, yummmmmm.

4. The Song/Songs you listened to recently?  I can't seem to get enough of Ke$ha's Blow.  (ok, sorry.  that just sounds wrong...)

5.  What were you thinking while doing this?  Quit lolly-gagging!

6.  Do you have nicknames?  What are they?  The acceptable nicknames are Done (as in condone), my Dad calls me Ea (ee-uh), or when he thinks he's being funny - Flea (flee-uh).  I had an 8th grade PE teacher call me Donut, because she never could pronounce my name.

7.  Tag 8 blogger friends:

I'm sure by now - all of these people have been tagged.  And I hate to pick just 8 - because you're ALL fabulous!!  But, if you don't know any of these wonderful bloggers - I encourage you to visit them:

Jess at Falling Leaflets

Alex J. Cavanaugh

Colene Murphy

Abby Minard

Donna K. Weaver

Kari Marie

Meredith at Fairy Tales and Cappucino

Amy Richardson (a newbie to blogging and my cousin!!)

Who's listed as #1:  Jess!!  She's frawesome!!  If you need a writing tip, or link, or editor blog, or info on anything writerly related - Jess is your gal.  Her links are as amazing as she is!!

Say something about #5:  My sister from another Mister!!  :)  Change one little letter and Donna could be me!!  And she's from UT to boot ~ crazy!

How did you get to know #3:  Colene is a blogging buddy from way back!  (Ok, last fall...but still)  She's easy to get to know, so personable, edgy, tells it like it is and just cool.  Plus we share a secret love for Xena. :)

How about #4:  Abby was one of my very first followers and a fellow BtVS lover!  And also another mother to an awesome only girl.  She's an awesome blogger buddy to have.

Leave a message for #6:  Hey, Kari!  What's up, girl?  I hope someone has told you today that You Rock!

Leave a lovey-dovey message for #2:  Alex, how did you end up there??  Hmm...well, something to do with "frakking" came to mind, but as we're both married...that just seemed inappropriate.  :p  So, I'll go with, "Love long and prosper!"

Do #7 and #8 have similarities?  Meredith and Amy?  They're both kick-a writers who share a dream.  They both know me (to some extent).  They're both seriously talented and awesome!  Three's good, right?

Have a great weekend!!

Find the Story Friday!!! Driveby Shooting....

Of a PICTURE, thank you!  :)

I realize I don't offer many people pics on Find the Story Friday.  It's simply because I feel a little weird about snapping pictures of random strangers.  ESPECIALLY when they could see me doing it and think, "What the heck is that creeper doing????"  Do you do this?  IS it weird?  Is it just me?  I suppose I could plaster a pic of my daughter up here every Friday.  Or more of my doxie, Sammy.  But, there's only so many adventures those two can find themselves in.

So, I thought I'd try the "slick" approach.  You know...camera phone at the ready, roll the window down as I slowly drive by a group of random strangers, hand goes up, CLICK, hand slams back down, window up, and *SIGH*.  Over.

And here's what you get, my friends:

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So, tell me ~ What happens next?  What's going on here?  What are these people doing?  Give me your best!! 

And have a FABULOUS Memorial Day Weekend!!  May it be filled with sunshine and BBQs ~ :)

Find the Story Friday!!!! Rain, rain - GO AWAY!

I generally love it when it rains.  I love the sound of it.  I think I've mentioned this before, but I love to sit in my car off-road somewhere, recline my seat, close my eyes and let the pitter-patter of the water lull me.  It's strangely magical.

However... when I'm not sure Winter has ended and Spring has arrived (and it's May freakin' 20th!!!), because it rains and rains and rains and rains a little more...I kind of want to strangle rain. 

But, here's my pic of the day anyway:

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What are your thoughts on rain, lately?  And can you pretty please put that in story form?  :)

Happy Friday!

Find the Story Friday!! Cherie Reich's Flash Fic Blogfest ~ :)

Click HERE for other blogfest info!!

Happy Friday, everyone!!  Today - I'm cheating a little, resurrecting some recent flash fic I posted for Cherie Reich's flash fic blogfest.  So - for those of you here for Find the Story Friday, here's how it's going to work.  I've found a story for you already.  HOWEVER - please tell me where you might take the story from here.

*And for those of you here for the blogfest ~ please enjoy:

If I squinted at the sun, the Dunluce castle ruins on the Antrim Coast were whole again. I saw the flower garlands strewn from all four towers, strings of harebells, meadowsweet, yarrows and primrose. The courtyard was cluttered with bright dancers, torchlight glinting off their wings. Flute music mixed sweetly with the crashing waves on the cliff side below. I'd been here before, a long time ago, I was sure of it. But, not like this. Not in this human form.



I drew my sunglasses down and the scene changed - gray rubble amidst the green scrub and rocks.


"Do you want to go down to the cave, Ehva?"


Roark's hand, warm on my back, made me waver. I rubbed the cool weathered coin between my thumb and forefinger. I was in Ireland on March 17th on my seventeenth birthday. If the letters were true, today was it.


"Yeah, babe. Race you?"


Roark took racing seriously. It was hard to watch him running before me, laughing, his white smile and warm brown eyes twinkling at me. As if in competition, the coin in my hand winked even brighter, the gold forcing through the aged patina. I couldn't stay here. Could I?


The cave, damp and smelling of fishy seaweed, made this place in my life easy to say goodbye to. Roark cooing and taunting me in the dark made it harder. I had two choices here - a kiss with the human I loved, hoping his embrace would hold me here forever. Or I could toss this coin into the sea and buy my way back to the past, to the realm of Fae. I turned my cheek to Roark's kiss and flipped the coin into the dark water.



**Thanks for stopping by!  Have a fabulous weekend and Happy Mother's Day!!

G is for Gorgeous Dog!! Caption Contest Part deux...

Happy Friday, everyone!!  How's the A-Z treating you?  Me?  Fabulous, of course.  I'm finding some great new bloggers out there, some old experienced and some just starting out.  And for everyone out there not participating, I hope the blogosphere is treating you right ~ :)

If you missed this last week, Fridays at The QoP are my "Find the Story Friday" segment.  I post a picture I've taken of a person, place or thing and then encourage my readers to create a story and run wild with it.  It's one of my favorite days of the week!  For the A-Z challenge, I'm posting pics of my dog, Sammy, and asking readers to make up a caption for the picture.  There's prize $$$ involved!!  For more deets, check out my original post HERE.

Now, for "G" day...I give you my Gorgeous little pup:

Isn't he handsome?

Ok, peeps.  Give me your best!  There's moola on the line... :)

A is for ANNOUNCEMENTS!! 100TH Post, A-Z, Caption Contest & More ~ :)

Wow!  This is a HUGE day!  It's the start of the infamous A-Z challenge.  850+ bloggy participants in this event, conceived by Arlee Bird of Tossing It Out.  I'm sure he wouldn't mind another entrant or two or three...(would he?) - so feel free to check it out HERE.

ALSO - it's my 100th post today!!  I officially started this blog in 2007.  Number of blog posts in 2007?  I think 1...  It wasn't until last August that I really got serious and BOOM!  Now I'm typing away post # 1-0-0.  Pretty Amazing.  It's been a great ride so far.  Here's to the next 100!

Plus, I've topped 250+ followers and tomorrow just happens to be my birthday.  :)

So - to celebrate April, I'm going to hold a Caption Contest.  Friday's are typically my Find the Story Friday segment, so I decided to incorporate this into the A-Z and into a contest.  And since my little puppy Sammy will also be turning 1 this month (Apr. 3rd), ALL pictures to caption will be of him.  *BONUS points for offering up a caption every Friday!  Winner will be picked on Apr. 30th and announced on May 2nd. 

The prize?  A $30 Amazon gift card!  *pauses for applause*  Yeah, I know.  I'm awesome like that.  Even better - if I top 300+ followers by month's end, I'll bump that up to $50!!  (feel free to spread the word, thx!)

So - here's the first pic:

Have fun!  Caption away, and I promise tomorrow's post will be (B) for Brief.  Happy Friday!

Find the Story Friday!! The Cottage...

Hi!  How's it goin'?  How's that WiP coming along?  Pretty good?  I ask because I care ~ :) 

Before I give you my pic for the week - I want to let you know that I'm stylish and creative.  No, that's not my ego talking.  Although good ol' ego did get a boost when two lovely bloggers gave me some awards.

E.C. Smith gave me The Stylish Blogger award.  Thank you, E.C.!!!  Please check out her lovely blog HERE.

And Deirdra at A Storybook World gave me this GORGEOUS Creative Blog Award!!!

Oh my gosh, I love it!!  It's just so pretty ~ :)  Thank you, Deirdra.  Please visit her adorable blog HERE.

And now for Friday's pic:

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Your MC stumbles across this cute little cottage in the middle of nowhere (or somewhere, or space, or an alternate dimension, get creative!)   There might be a witch and breadcrumbs involved, there might not.  Let your mind wander and tell me, what happens next?

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you all have a FABULOUS weekend.  Write, travel, sleep, have a game night, read a book, cook, watch a favorite movie, hang with a friend, buy a new book, listen to your favorite song over and over and over again, dance, splash around in the rain, write - just enjoy!