Stream of Conciousness Sunday: NaNoWriMo

***

It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.
• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
• Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
• Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
• Link up your post.
• Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

***

I've been toying with the idea of trying NaNo this year. I've tried int he past and failed misrerably. Mainly because I either run out of steam or get behind in my daily writing goals. Not sure why this year will be different but I am feeling the need to get back to my creative writing. I have characters that need to speak and get out of my head. I have places that I want to describe and take these characters to. I have emotions that they need to go through.

There is the chance, actually a really good chance that I won't finish what I start. But I think that's okay. I just want to write. Writing on this blog is fun but it's not the writing that I crave to do. I think that's why I've never taken this very seriously or had long term goals for it. 

I have a book in me and even if it never sees the light of day, I want to be able to say I wrote one. In it's entirety. Okay, that's a lie. I'd love to say I published one but I'd be half satisfied to say I completed one and it's sitting on my harddrive waiting to be submited. For goodness sake S. Meyer says Twilight came to her in a dang dream...and look how she's laughing all the way to the bank. I apologize to those that love the series but the writing is mediocre, at best.

So NaNoWriMo...here I come.

Want to join the Sunday fun? Click below:

Friday Fun-For All Giveaway

To celebrate the weekend I have teamed up with Eversave Atlanta to bring you a chance to win $15.00 in Save Rewards. If you win you your Save Rewards are redeemable for deals online or in any city!

When you sign up for daily emails from Eversave you get the chance to score some great local and online deals, saving at least 50%! Eversave is in multiple cities and can be a great way to try something new without breaking the budget. I've bought saves for my husband (golf!) and saves for myself.

Want to win even more Save Rewards? Head on over to Facebook and participate in the Friday Fun for All, where if you share any of their saves on your wall you are entered to win $25.00 in Save Rewards! You can also follow them on Twitter.

Are you in the Atlanta area? Look at the great "fun-tivity" you could be having:

Better Baseball - an hours worth of batting practice and 10% off merchandise for only 10$! A good way to introduce the kids to baseball (or softball) or re-live your glory days of high school or college ball. Batter, batter, swing!

Baseball not your thing? How about a pony? Even better? A horse! East Cobb Stables has you covered. for $35 you can get your child a 30 minute pony ride and grooming lesson. For $50 you can get a private 60 minute horseback riding lesson. Are you a budding photographer? This could set the scene for a great locale and shots.

But if you're like me, you are looking for ways to unwind and relax your mind, body and soul. Eversave has you covered...with $15 for two yoga classes at Vista Yoga. Pick up the save and you to can be saying om all the way home. Namaste!

If you’re not from the Atlanta area, check here to view saves in a city near you!

To earn an entry in this giveaway:
1. Like Eversave Atlanta on Facebook -OR- follow @EversaveATL on Twitter, AND
2. Leave a comment on this post.

Entries are due by Monday, October 24 at 5pm EST.  One lucky winner will be chosen at random and will have $15 in Save Rewards deposited into their Eversave account.  Good luck!

Laugh Out Loud or LOL

After visiting Veronica at Crunchy VT Mommy I saw that she was doing a great link up hosted by Faith at Simplicity. Each week Faith posts a photography challenge and I figured I need all the help I can get to keep taking more pictures. And to make sure Teagan doesn't think we skimped out on her photos...you know being the second child and all.

Faith's challenge was labeled LOL...as in take a photograph of people/places/things that makes us laugh. Besides my husband...the kids hands down make me laugh. Spencer can come up with some of the silliest things to say. Currently he has taken to making up words and using them to describe everything! His latest word? Backie...

Teagan is learning to crawl and to see her on the floor and reaching with such determination and then cackling when she gets where she wants to go is so fun to watch. I can't help but laugh. So without further ado...two pics that make me smile and laugh. Laugh because I now what was happening in each one to get the reaction in the shots.

Want to link up and join the fun? Click below:

Stream of Conciousness Sunday: Happy Birthday

It's been a while since I have participated in Fadra's Sunday linkup but I figured today was as good as any day...because it's my birthday. You know the drill...5 minutes, no editing, writing in the raw.

********************************************

Today I enter my late 30's and turn 37. I have never been one to get bent out of shape about my age. It happens, we can't change it, so why fret? I have always been okay with telling someone my age. Except maybe when I was 18 - 20 and needed to be 21...but I had an i.d. that said I was what I said I was. I think I still have that i.d. somewhere. I probably should put it away before the kids find it and use it against me. 

This time last year we had spent a week in N.C. First we visited the mountains and partook in admiring the wonderful changing of the leaves. It's a beautiful thing to see and when you see it from the top of a mountain you realize just how small we really are. 

After sightseeing we headed east and spent some time with Tim's family. I was about 22 weeks pregant with Teagan and we were actually letting the cat out of the bag that my belly was indeed holding a precious baby girl.

I spent my actual birthday in Raleigh and it was on this day that I had the pleasure of meeting Fadra in person. It was this day that she kindly gave me the best gift...a stroller. You can read about that here. Meeting her definitely was fun and my only regret is that we didn't get to spend more time together or get a picture together. 

And now that I think about a year ago and today...I realize one thing...it's been several years since I've had an actual birthday cake. I freaking love cake and someone has been dropping the ball. I think I will need to rectify that this year...I'm having cake, if I have to buy/make/steal it myself.

Happy Birthday to me.

****************************

So there is my 5 minutes...give or take 3 or so minutes. Want to linkup? Need to get thoughts out of your head? Click below and join us:

Wordful Wednesday - A Year

I posted this one on Facebook earlier this week...or maybe it was late last week. Each photo was taken on Daytona Beach, a year apart. Cool, right?

TV is my Boyfriend or TV Tuesday's

I haven't decided what I want to call these Tuesday post...as they are usually about whatever struck me from the week before. As I don't have any rhyme or reason on my blog, I'll go with both...for now. All subject to change, at any given time. Ha!

This week I want to talk about a new show that came out this fall. It's called Revenge and it's on ABC. This one intrigued me from the promos and stars Emily VanCamp. She was most recently part of the Brothers and Sister's show but have loved her since her Everwood days. Also on the show? Roswell hottie Nick Wechsler.

The premise is simple...she is out to get revenge on the people who screwed over her dad and her back when she was a child. The folks she's trying to get her revenge on? The creme de la creme of the Hamptons. Yep, those Hamptons. The very one that Puff Daddy throws his white party at...

Yes, the story can be a bit far-fetched especially since Emily's character Amanda/Emily has unlimited funds (thanks to her deceased father) and has basically spent all her time from the age of 18 to 25(?) preparing for this very summer. But it's good. It's edge of your seat good. It's can't for next week good. You think you know and then suddenly you don't. It's an hour that goes by very fast. I know I've seen people question how they could make this show get a second season because once Amanda/Emily gets her revenge...then what? I am sure the creators didn't plan this show to last one season and I most curious to see what happens when we get to the end of season one.

The only gripe I have? The infinity box that holds all of Amanda/Emily's revenge notes...how is she not afraid of someone sneaking up on her while she's reminiscing? It's almost happened once while she casually looked at an old video of her father's trial. To me it's a "duh" move...but it's TV so...

What about you? What are you watching this fall? Anything new? Any old faithfuls that you hope never get cancelled?

Wordful Wednesday - Stingrays

Last week we went on vacation and spent on of our days at Sea World. Spencer is amazed by all things animals and this was the perfect foray into the world of theme parks. His absolutely favorite part? Yep, the stingrays. He loved the way the practically jumped out of the water and how flapped their "wings." I love watching his fascination with animals big and small. I know he will be great at teaching his sister all the things he learns!

TV is my Boyfriend

I have always watched a significant amount of TV. Even as a kid I remember getting dressed up and ready to watch Wonder Woman and then as I grew from child to tween/preteen Silver Spoons and Growing Pains. I remember watching shows and then having them cancelled and how for weeks after I wondered what happened to the characters. I didn't know about seasons or arcs or any of that (until my beloved Roswell.)

I have a love - hate relationship with reality TV. It's easy to get sucked in and vested in people that are supposedly putting themselves out there. But lately...on show has been getting on my last freaking nerve. The show? The Real Housewives of New Jersey, brought to us courtesy of Bravo. I watched a few episodes of the original Real Housewives of the OC but they didn't hold my interest. But when they brought the Jersey women to the TV? Yep, they had me hook, line and sinker. Here was a group of women in the one state that people love to make fun of...that had opened their lives to cameras for all of us to watch, judge and berate. I loved it from the start and have stuck by each season. But this season? This season has me rolling my eyes and just wanting it all to end.

I am over the behavior that has been on display this season. Especially by Teresa Guidice. I use to like her and rooted for her, even when it was apparent that she nor her husband know the first thing about financial responsibility. She was kooky and over the top, but seemed harmless. (Except maybe when she's flipping tables, google it.) But this season? She has turned into quite a bitch. She's obviously very jealous of her sister-in-law and it is very unbecoming. I get having "family" hurt you...but to never take the high road? Or even be capable of doing it? For the sake of your hurting child? In one word? Actually two, it's sad and disgusting.

Just last week (while I was on a lovely vacation) there was a twitter war between two of the ladies. Another display of their apparent lack of class. Grown women...FIGHTING ON TWITTER. Even in all caps...do you see how stupid it is? I can only shake my head and hope Bravo can fix this mess they have created. I understand the need for drama...but this mess? This mess is no longer worthy of my hour.

Anyone else watch? Have thoughts? I think I may start talking about TV shows on Tuesdays. I rarely watch anything in real time and I need a place to vent....