Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Homeownership...

I've discovered a new danger to homeownership, but before I share I'll tell you that I just made a deal to purchase a condo. Big step for me, considering I still watch cartoons many days.
Then I discovered a very large, very real danger...
Tar-jay. Target to those of you not in the know.
I went there to buy a fan, which apparently they've been sold out of since Saturday. I stayed to pick up a few other items. That's when I realized my mistake.
See, Target has everything. They have shower heads, toilet seats, window shades/blinds/sheers/valances, wall hooks, organizational caddies...I could go on. Thankfully, a friend called me to congratulate me, and was very persuasive when she said, "Get out of there, now!"
She was right. I haven't even closed, and I'm already ready to buy all sorts of doodads, gadgets, and various other pretties.
So dangerous...
Which of course begs the question...what is your "danger" store?

Labels: ,

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Save the School of Gallantry Series

Frequent readers of this blog know I love to share what I'm reading. Even more, I love to support other writers...especially those I can count among my friends. Delilah Marvelle is one of those writers. She's the author of the deliciously sexy Mistress of Pleasure, one of my top recommendations from last year.
Her next book, Lord of Pleasure, will release Aug. 4th, and you know I'll be at the store waiting to bang the door down.
Unfortunately, her publisher has decided to end this decadent series...which means Lord of Pleasure will be the last in the School of Gallantry. But maybe, if we all go and buy a copy, it doesn't have to be the last.
So August 4th, get thee to the bookstore to purchase Lord of Pleasure by Delilah Marvelle. You won't regret it!

Labels:

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Hot stuff...

Welcome to the Seattle Metro area, where the average temp has hovered in or near the 80's for the last couple of weeks. Yesterday may have hit 90. This kind of weather usually only hits for a few days every summer, before returning us to our normal low to mid-70's. This year, it's lingering.
While admittedly I'm not a hot-weather kind of gal, I've been loving this weather. Gorgeous weather means early morning bike rides, long walks, evening walks, and lazy afternoons on my balconey reading and watching the air.
Amidst all this relaxation, I've managed to get in some crucial revision time on my YA, as well as begun to play with an idea for my next manuscript. I'm beyond excited to start that project. It's going to be a lot of fun to write, and a bit of a return to some of my favorite styles of writing.
This weekend brings visitors to town, good food, and maybe even a festival or two.
What are your plans?

Labels:

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Sunshine-y day...

It's so beautiful outside, I just had to share. We've had the most amazingly beautiful summer since I moved here. Of course, it's beautiful and I should be inside working on my YA revisions.
I may have to go play instead.
How are you spending this lovely weekend?

Labels:

Friday, July 10, 2009

How are you spending your summer vacation?

If you're anything like me, you're spending it trying to do all the things you put off during the rest of the year...filing, shredding, reading.
Ah, reading. It was so nice to sit down on my couch the other day and just read. And read. And read some more.
I think I'm probably trying to cram as much reading into my summer as I can, since I know I won't have nearly as much time to enjoy it during the rest of the year. In light of this, I thought I'd share some of my more recent reads, which include (but are not limited to):
  • Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn
  • How to Ruin My Teenage Life by Simone Elkeles
  • Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs
  • The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner

And I'm currently in the middle of Adios to my Old Life by Caridad Ferrer and Brain Rules by John Medina.

So many books, so many thoughts. Strangely, the best part of all this reading is that it's giving my creative brain the break it needs to really think through my current WiP. I've made more progress on revisions and edits since I've had the time to read, simply because I'm more relaxed about it all. Which doesn't make the revision process any easier, really, but at least the ideas are there.

Labels: ,

Thursday, July 02, 2009

Home sweet home...

I'm finally home from L.A. (well, technically, I got home on Sunday, but haven't really been in MY home all week), with lots of pictures. What a great way to start my summer break! Sun, good food, fabulous friends, and flights that took off and landed on time.
What more can a gal ask for?
Pictures you say? Well, that I can do. So while I'm working on revisions and marvelling that I haven't managed to kill the orchid a student gave me, enjoy!
It's all about brunch. Or was it lunch? Frankly, time seemed to run together. But The Newsroom, just up the road from the now famous Ivy, had some of the best french toast ever!

After a long day wandering around Los Angeles, we drove up to The Getty Museum. The museum has some of the best views in the city. After wandering through one of the photo exhibits, and grabbing a snack, we took a few moments to relax before getting ready for the evening's entertainment...The Groundlings Theater.
The trip would not have been complete without a visit to Venice Beach. Have I mentioned how much I love the water? And the beach? I wanted to stay here all day...but we had things to do.

Like find C's fiance who'd gone off to park the car. Eventually she called him to find out where he was. You'd think she was famous, the way she avoided the camera, though. She's got it down to an art.

Labels: ,