Awards of Randomness

Okay, this is so totally appropriate, because these awards are kind of random, and since that goes right along with my blog title (see above) well, it just works. My friend Christine Fonseca awarded these to me, which means I get to pass them on to fifteen other bloggers.

In case you're wondering, winning a blog award is sort of like a game of tag. Someone will "award" you with a picture and post your name and link, and then  you have to share the same "award" with so many other bloggers. So it's not really an award you win for, like, accomplishing anything. It's just more of a fun way to get to know other bloggers and spread the linkage far and wide. Therefore, this is a fun activity for us.

You should totally check out the blogs of the authors linked in these posts, because bloggers love readers. Really. Like, serious love. Just sayin.

The Rules for The Versatile Blogger Award:

1. Thank and link back to the person that gave you the award.

2. Share seven things about yourself.

3. Pass the award to fifteen bloggers that you think deserve it.

4. Lastly, contact all the bloggers that you’ve picked for the award.

One Lovely Blog Award Rules:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.

3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Seven things about myself, in no particular order:

1. I recently discovered that Red Vines are also made in grape flavor, which are appropriately called Grape Vines. I love these things. They're so hard to find that I bought five packs (which was all they had) from WinCo, just to keep a supply that is now almost gone.

2. I love to travel. And while I travel, I enjoy trying new foods. So, as I'm on my road trip this week, I'm sure I'll find some odd new thing to try. Totally excited about it. (Suggestions anyone?)

3. I always sleep with a fan on. A little bit of white noise goes a long way to helping me sleep sound.

4. The people at my local convenience stores know me by sight, and some even by name. And not only that, when I show up at the drive thru, they even know exactly what I want in my refill mug. "A Dr. Pepper with lots of ice, please."

5. I've never been to Canada, climbed a light house, or seen Niagra Falls. But I intend to do at least two of those things very soon. We'll see.

6. Whenever I go to the library or a bookstore and see teens browsing the YA section looking lost, I have this insane urge to take them by the hand, lead them to the greatest books, and say, "Here. Let me show you what you want to read."

7. One of my kids loaded an iPod that was playing in my car, and I became attached and addicted to the music of Avril Lavigne. She's Awesome! Also, my friend Elana turned me onto The Script, a group who is also awesome. Oh, AND Maroon 5 has a new album coming out on Tuesday. SO TOTALLY buying that along the way. ~music love!~

Okay, now I'm passing these awards onto the following bloggers:

1. Bethany Wiggins and Suzette Saxton at Shooting Stars.
2. Windy Aphayrath at Like the Weather
3. L.T. Elliott at Dreams of Quill and Ink
4. Christine Bryant at Daydreamer
5. Angie Lofthouse at Notes from the Writing Chair
6. Keith Fisher at The Writers Eyes
7. Elizabeth Mueller
8. Jenn Wilks at Lifelong Book Worm
9. Tristi Pinkston
10. Heather Justesen
11. Karlene Browning at Inksplasher
12. Darvell Hunt at LDS Writer's Blogck
13. Cindy Beck at Write Up My Alley
14. Mary at Writers Butt Does Not Apply to Me
15. Elana Johnson

Can't wait to see all your posts!

**PS I won't be notifying nominees until I get home on Sunday. But if you see your name listed here, feel free to consider yourself notified and blog away at your leisure.

A Party Made of Wicked Awesomeness

And Other Random Things

In case you have forgotten or didn’t already know, Thursday is my day to blog over at LDS Writer’s Blogck. My post today is about a writer’s journey being an uphill climb. I posted some great pictures with it, so if you have a minute, click here to check it out. You won’t be sorry, promise.

Also, last week I attended a party made of wicked awesomeness, and I’ve been so overwhelmed with getting back into the groove after my vacation with the family, that I’ve been remiss in blogging about it. Which is totally my bad, since I really, truly had a fabulous time and was so excited that when the list of authors was put together, my name ended up on it. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Suzzette and Elana put it together, Elana being the party planning goddess of the Sith Lord Variety (find the explanation of the Sith Lord thing on Elana’s post here), and Suz being the hostess who rearranged her entire house just so we could all hang together. (She must have a very buff furniture-moving-type husband who didn’t mind that his wife kicked him out of the house for the night.) Those two are da’ bomb, I tell ya!

I had a fab time hanging with some authors I already know, and meeting a bunch more who will now expand my ever-growing circle of writing comrades. Plus, there was food. And prizes. And games that had us all laughing until we cried. So. Much. Fun.

Check us out, toasting to our own awesomeness with sparkling cider.

Right to left, standing:L.T. Elliot, Mary Campbell, Me (in the pink sweat shirt), Alaina Evans, Elana Johnson, Angie Lofthouse, Carolyn Vawdrey, Michelle Argyle, Suzzette Saxton, Windy Aphayrath.

Kneeling:Jenn Wilks, Tess Hilmo, Ali Cross, Natalie Whipple

You’ll notice that every one of these ladies has that something special glowing in her eyes, that little spark that says, “I’m going to be big someday.” And I know it’s absolutely true. So check out all their blogs and websites, and become a follower and all that jazz. You know how writers love fans and followers.

Wait. Somehow, that statement makes me sound like the Pied Piper. Yikes. But I’m not. I promise.

Cue creepy Star Wars-type music.

*Waves hand in a half circular motion.* You will become a follower.

End music.

Anyhoo… on my personal writing journey, another hurdle has been jumped. The Sharp Edge of a Knife went to press today. Should be available sometime around January 31st. Yahoo! Excited, nervous, excited, nervous, happy. I think. Now I should probably get to the part where I plan my launch party. That will be my major task for Friday. That, and finishing up the Sharp Edge website.

In my plan for the New Year, I’ve decided that if I plan one major task each day, maybe I’ll accomplish that one thing and then a few smaller ones. So far, it’s kind of working. Who knew?

Strength and its Measures: Quote #4

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."

~Lao Tzu

From the mouth of my nine-year-old this afternoon: "Mom, you should send us to Hawaii for school. Then you and dad could move there too, and we could skip school and live in a happy house." ~McKay My response: Oh boy, I couldn't agree more! Let's all skip school and move to Hawaii!

Don't forget to enter to win a signed copy of The A-MAZE-ing Book of Mormon by Arie Van De Graaff. If you don't remember the details, click here or scroll down to the post below this one. The contest is open until Midnight Wednesday night (or Thursday morning, technically.) Good luck!

Random Measures of Strength: Part 3

“True strength lies in submission which permits one to dedicate his life, through devotion, to something beyond himself.”

~Henry Miller

Canyon Prayer by Jessie Alexander

Jessi Alexander - Canyon Prayer (Official Music Video) - More bloopers are a click away

Random Measures of Strength, Quote #2

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will."

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Random Measures of Strength, Quote #1

“Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong--sometimes, it's letting go."

~ Unknown