Mindy Blanchard

Interested in Commissioned Artwork?

2011-10-21T16:07:00.005-05:00

Ever wanted to own original artwork created by me specifically for you or a loved one? Well YOU CAN!

Artist’s Statement:

As a writer, artist, and perpetual dreamer, I find escape in creating worlds very different from my own life through both the written and the visual forms. Using these creative outlets, I strive to provide inspiring images and words, focusing on increasing self-esteem and promoting positive feelings in life, in oneself, and in the pursuit of dreams.

My journey into art began in 2005 with the deconstruction and reconstruction of old books into personal art journals. Art journaling involves using key words, phrases, or found poetry. I continue to explore this art form, which enables me to work through personal feelings, thoughts, and events on my art journal pages. Being unable to write for many years, the paint brush eventually brought me back to my writing pen. Most of the pages of my art journals are centered around overcoming personal issues and documenting important moments in my life. In 2007, I stumbled upon scrapbooking techniques, which I then incorporated into my art journals. Within the past two years, I started painting professionally, capturing images on canvas and paper to motivate myself and others in pursuit of dreams.

Generally, I work in my art journals and on different art pieces simultaneously. The most notable features within my artwork are texture elements. I utilize many tools to increase the textural feel of most of my artwork. In addition, my work centers around female images and includes positive inspirational wording. Building scenes through collage is a new practice that I am currently enjoying. A freelance, self-employed writer and artist, I work primarily in acrylics using collage, ephemera, scrapbooking, and mixed media techniques in fantasy and fairy art. Having received no formal art training, I am predominantly a self-taught artist on an enriching journey where my most invaluable lesson learned to date is how gesso can be an artist’s best friend.

I reside in my hometown of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. While having an on-again/off-again relationship with pursing my Bachelor's degree in English at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, I strive to live the creative life through writing, creating mixed media art, and mentoring others in creativity. I can be found working intensely, though it may look a little like daydreaming, on stories or splashing paint around in my studio with loud music playing in the background. I enjoy getting swept away in a good book, avoiding reality television, trying foods from around the world, and traveling whenever I can.

I create many differing styles of artwork.

My paintings will look great in coordination to children's decor, for wedding, or birthday presents!

Pricing is simple:

2.5x3.5 $10
4x6 $25
5x7 $35
7x9 $65
8x10 $80
11x14 $155
12x16 $200

The artwork can come on stretched canvas*, canvas boards, watercolor paper, etc. (*Artwork on stretched canvas can be painted black on the sides and hung as is without needing to be framed.) It can be sealed in varnish or beeswax at no extra charge. (See me for resin pricing.)

I do have referral discounts. Earn discounts on artwork based on completed (paid) referrals to friends and family. Half of artwork price is due up front to begin the commission. Remaining half is due at completion of artwork. Shipping charges apply if applicable. Item will be shipped/provided once payment is received in full.

I'm only accepting a limited number of commissions during this holiday season, due to work, classes, and life in general. So now is the time to get your order in.

Let's discuss your commission, and let's make your painting a reality!

Ready to be Remade

2011-10-18T21:36:00.003-05:00

Jeremiah 18:4 But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.

Jeremiah 18:6 "Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand..

Inspirational Song to Fit the Mood:

Jason Gray - I Am New Lyrics
Artist: Jason Gray
Album: Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue

Now I won't deny
The worst you could say about me
But I'm not defined
By mistakes that I've made
Because God says of me

I am not who I was
I am being remade
I am new
I am chosen and holy
And I'm dearly loved
I am new

Who I thought I was
And who I thought I had to be
I had to give them both up
Cause neither were willing
To ever believe

I am not who I was
I am being remade
I am new
I am chosen and holy
And I'm dearly loved
I am new

Too long I have lived
In the shadows of shame
Believing that there
Was no way I could change
But the one who is making everything new
Doesn't see me the way that I do
He doesn't see me the way that I do

I am not who I was
I am being remade
I am new
I am chosen and holy
And I'm dearly loved
I am new

I am not who I was
I am being remadeI am new
Dead to the old man,I'm coming alive
I am new

Forgiven beloved
Hidden in Christ
Made in the image of the Giver of Life
Righteous and holy
Reborn and remade
Accepted and worthy, this is our new name

This is who we are now...

Artwork:

Lessons:

After a week of fasting and prayer, I came undone. It seems like I've been crying since the moment I was saved. Bits and pieces of me are crumbling/flaking off a little more each day. What will remain of me, I wonder. While at the same time, I cannot wait to see what I become.

Like an onion being peeled back little by little, I remain, forever waiting, forever ready...to be remade.

Wear Love

2011-10-08T21:31:00.003-05:00

What is love? And how exactly do you wear it? I wonder.

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22 (NIV)

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34 (NIV)

All of the ladies in my group inspire me so much, each and every day. It's a blessing to receive the opportunity to become a part of such a strong support system of wonderful ladies who love Him. I'm so blessed to know these gals and to be able to grow with them.

The artwork for this week was inspired by a scripture read by my lovely friend, Clovia. Her sweet voice reading this passage painted an amazing picture in my head that I couldn't wait to capture on paper:

"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it." Colossians 3
The Message (MSG)

(This was also the day that I learned that the Bible has ??how many?? different translations? I'm currently reading my church's version and the King James Version. I tend to trip over the wording of King James but I like to see both views.)

The Lesson:

Its funny that the one thing I have been searching for my whole life eventually lead me right to Him.

I've been in love with the idea of love since I was 13. I began reading my mom's romance novels as soon as I was able to hold those big books up.

But relationships were never anything I was particularly good at. I always felt left out, damaged, unloved.

All of that changed for me one fine day in September of 2010, when I finally felt peace in my heart, when I realized that He loved me unconditionally, when I realized that what I had been searching for was there for me all along.

Now I'm falling in love with Him. Together, He and I are breaking apart the parts or qualities of me that are less than desirable, and rebuilding it all to the way He originally intended. (He's doing all the work; I'm just the one being too emotional). Its not easy looking your worst qualities in the face every day, but I refuse to give up. How can I when such an amazing God/man won't give up on me.

All this time that I felt unlovable, He was simply saving me for something so much better than I even know how to ask for....I can't wait to find it. Until then, I'm focusing on being the Mindy He wants me to be, and taking it one day at a time. And praying. And reading His word. And hoping that one day "someday" will be here.

Be a Doer of the Word

2011-09-25T22:31:00.005-05:00

It is funny how everything in my life is becoming centered around the most important person...(I know you are thinking I'm about to say me, aren't you...Yes it's true I'm feeling very convicted over my self-centeredness. God is working on me. But apparently I'm slow to learn this lesson, so be patient with me please! I'll get there.)

Anyways, I'm spending time with Him each and everyday, and I'm loving it. He's teaching me so much about life and myself. I'm falling so much in love with Him. I can't wait to hear from Him, read about Him, see Him. It's amazing, this love story of ours.

And I'm not afraid to share Him. He loves us all...So do it. Get to know Him for yourself and see if you can resist Him...I dare you!

Verses of the week:

James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Romans 2:13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

Matthew 7:24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Artwork:

Lesson Learned:

I'm thirsty for Him and His word. I read the Bible as often as I can. While I'm not able to memorize the verses or complete the assignments in my bible study like I wish I could, I'm still putting Him in my life and getting the seeds planted. He is working on me constantly, because He loves me, his chosen daughter, and because I believe.

I'm a hot mess, I must admit, financially, spiritually, emotionally, physically, domestically; jeez the list is a mile long, and I'll save us all from the rest of it. I'm partly surprised that He would even see fit to bother, but His heart is so amazing and His love so great. He accepts me for who I am. He loves me unconditionally. He forgives me for my past and forgets about it (boy was that a pill to swallow). He is love. He is beauty. What's not to love about Him?

He's taught me that it's not just about reading the bible. I have to apply it to my life. I have to take his words (ex: work as if unto the Lord) and apply it to my everyday. So I put that into practice this week, and I changed in ways I never thought possible. I became a better worker, a better teammate, a better person by doing everything as if unto Him.

But I'm not "there" yet, that's for sure. I have a long way to go. He's teaching me that He is working on me. He is providing me with the tools and the knowledge and the desire to be the person that He wants me to be. He is taking away all of the "things" that I do not need in my life and filling my heart with Him. As he works on me and my issues, he is helping me to grow stronger, smarter, whole, so that my house (me) will be wrapped so firmly within Him that nothing will shake it. No matter what happens, I will get through it (relationships, jobs, children, life) because I built my house upon HIM.

So what is your house built on?

Do you ever wonder if there is a different way?

Maybe it's time for you to change contractors...I definitely have one I could recommend with all my heart!

Jesus, is the light and the way.

Life Lessons: Work

2011-09-18T22:34:00.006-05:00

God is good!

With my newfound faith, I had plans of attending weekly bible studies to grow further in my faith. Well, life (or something like it) soon stopped me in my tracks.

For the past few weeks, I've been torn between what I want and what I have to work with. I prayed. He answered, in the most unexpected of ways. (And his best is so much better than what I even knew to ask for!!)

But going backwards a bit, lets rewind to my last art class. I believe in art as therapy, helping us to overcome issues and hurts to grow stronger and heal. The class focused on collaborations, in the sense that we focused on the same subject, which was working through a current issue in our lives. We journaled our hurts, pain, thoughts, without edits. Then we used art (paint) to wash away the issue (Giving it to God, is how I see it). Next we added elements that we hoped for, wanted, envisioned, want to see in the place of the "issue."

My piece focused on the message I was to hear repeated for the next week.

Fastforward to today. Rather than change someone's heart to allow for more flexibility in scheduling or sending another opportunity my way, He planted a seed in my pastor to create a new bible study, lead by my pastor, on Sunday, my one true day of rest! How amazing is that, and better than I could have ever known to ask for.

Bible Study:

Ephesians 6:7 >> New International Version
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,

2 Corinthians 4:6 >> New International Version

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

1 Peter 4 >> New International Version
1Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

Lesson Learned:

God has a plan that is better than we can ever try to imagine, even us creatively imaginative types. We don't understand the hows or whys when things are happening, but He is forever in control of our lives. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations we do not wish to remain in. We pray and He answers. In His timing; not our own. For His good; not our own. He may leave us in unhappy situations because those situations have a lesson to teach us or someone around us. He leaves us in places of darkness so that His light can shine through us. Rather than suffer with complaints and whining, we should live as He did, suffering in silence, working to the best of our ability, with the tools provided to us, as if we were working for Him and His glory rather then for man.

My Plan To Grow:

I should work harder at receiving His will and commands and completing them, the first time, minus the complaints and kicking and screaming, as I do not need to understand His reasoning. He commands. I follow.

Thank you, God, for these blessings received.

Wanna learn some background techniques???

2011-09-17T07:58:00.002-05:00

Life is certainly getting more interesting by the minute. I'm taking care of business and working as if unto the Lord in all that I do. I'm breaking through strongholds and becoming a better Mindy.

Enough about me and about life. Lets talk about ART.

Did you ever wonder how I make my backgrounds? What techniques I use?

Well, now you have a chance to learn some of my tips and tricks, firsthand, in a class setting. You don't have to bring anything, but it's always good to bring at least two pictures that you may use for the finished product.

I provide the supplies and paper to work on. You bring home your finished creation.

Sounds like fun, right? Come to my next class and see how fun and easy ArT can be incorporated into your life.

Creating Backgrounds and Techniques by
MINDY BLANCHARD
Date: Sat, Sept 24, 2011 @ 10:30 am
Where: Hobby Lobby Classroom
Cost: $10 on day of class
*CLASS IS LIMITED TO 20 STUDENTS ONLY!
SIGN UP TODAY!!

Travel With Me Sketchbook Project 2012

2011-09-12T09:09:00.002-05:00

Sketchbook Project 2012 Teaser alert!! Combining my three favorite things: art, travel, and writing, I completed one the most fulfilling projects thus far. My project is based on the idea of an epistolary novel.

e·pis·to·lar·y /ɪˈpɪstlˌɛri/ [ih-pis-tl-er-ee] 1. contained in or carried on by letters: an epistolary friendship. 2. of, pertaining to, or consisting of letters.

I love writing stories via letters. While this is not my first novel of letters, it is the only one that is able to be shown to the public at this point.

I finally found a use for all of the maps and paraphanalia I acquired during my travels. Going through the places and the lessons I've learned in life has helped me to see how truly blessed I am in life and how much I have grown.

For the first time ever, I finished a project way ahead of schedule. I'm looking forward to seeing what other sketchbooks come from this years project.

Take a journey with me...

Filling My Time with His Story

2011-08-30T21:47:00.003-05:00

After months of having absolutely no feasible writing idea, alas it has come!

Yes that statement has a lot of issues but the good news is this: the words have come back to me! yayyyyy!

I am at a crossroads but I focus on moving one step forward and keep looking up! He will guide my footsteps; He knows the path I should take. The fact that he gives us free will is great, but its a pain, too. I hate knowing that I am the only thing that keeps getting in my own way...and its free will that gets me there.

I obeyed his command and was water baptized on August 17, 2011. It was an amazing experience. My friends and family were there to love and support me. The pastor knew not to put the microphone in my face...you know I can't speak when I'm feeling emotional and I've been an emotional wreck for weeks. I cry at the drop of a dime. Its crazy, but for someone who didn't cry for what seemed like 5 years its great to have my emotions back. I'm alive. Yes indeed. God spoke through the pastor of the issues that hold me back in life. It was truly amazing!

I'm loving my Bible studies and my church. I'm growing in my faith each and every day. I'm starved for His word, reading the Bible every chance I get. It's really weird how He's taken over my life...I love it!...but He's on my radio in the car, I'm watching His chosen shows on TV, I'm reading His book instead of my favorites. But I'm loving every minute of it.

I've felt alone for a very long time. I hate having free time and I tend to fill my time with any kind of pursuit, perhaps so I do not realize how alone I am. But everything happens for a reason. I've heard it a million times and rolled my eyes each time, but I understand it for the first time in my life. This is a period of waiting. He's given it to me for a reason and I have lessons to learn for the next portion of my life. I have joined an international sorority and have reacquainted with friends new and old. I'm connecting again. Its amazing, indeed.

I'm loving the Art classes that I'm teaching. I never thought myself capable of teaching but a few of my students are loving it so I must be doing something right.

There are a lot of changes going on in my life. I know He has big plans for me. I can't wait to see where His path will take me.

Biggest thought in my head: Whatever you need of me, You only have to command it!

Who am I?

2011-08-03T15:56:00.004-05:00

This past trip to Dallas, Texas, has been an eye opener. I saw deeper parts of myself, my relationships, and my life than I ever thought possible. Every step that I take is one step closer to the ultimate goal. While they all seem different, they are so interconnected.

Perhaps I come off as flighty. Perhaps people have seen my transitions, my growth, and see the differences. They say, "Mindy is chasing dreams," "Each dream is different," "What dream is she chasing this week."

Maybe they cannot see the interconnectedness. Why should they; I didn't even see the full picture until this weekend.

I've been a storyteller since I was kid. I love telling stories of some sort. So being a writer is natural to me. I don't want to write; rather I need to write. My chosen genre is stories of paranormal romance, but maybe I should delve into stories of chic lit or inspirational. (But this is a lesson for me to learn tomorrow). I write stories of heroes and heroines who must face problems bigger than themselves, who must learn lessons that they are able to get out of their situations, they are good enough, worthy enough; they are able to do anything!

I became an artist, seemingly out of nowhere. I created art based on encouraging phrases and images. Showing the viewer, you can do anything. You are good enough, worthy enough.

I combine the two and teach classes on art journaling, on using both written and visual forms of art to heal, to grow.

I became a business owner of my own Mobile Spa Business. I travel around and speak to women about how to take care of themselves, when we usually save ourselves for last. I'll get to me after I ______________ (take care of my spouse, the kids, my job, my house, etc). I tell them they are good enough, worthy enough to take a chance, to take care of themselves, to relax and be pampered and have "girl time" and they are able to do anything, like be the owner of their own business, making others feel great and helping them change lives!

I work for Mindy Blanchard 7 days out of the week and other companies fewer days out of the week. Whatever the title I use, the end result is the same. I help people. I help people feel good about themselves. I help people feel good about themselves no matter what we are doing!

Each path leads to this path. I live, learn, and love to write, create, and help others.

Anything is possible. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Are you ready to change your life?

Ask me how!

Fireman Dad by Betsy St. Amant

2011-07-30T10:08:00.006-05:00

The Book:

Fireman Dad (Love Inspired) by Betsy St. Amant

"Mommy, I Want To Be A Fireman."

Widowed mother Marissa Hawthorne's little boy wants to be like his new hero—firefighter Jacob Greene. But Marissa and her son lost too much to the profession of firefighting already. She can't possibly let either of them get close to the man, no matter how noble he is. Especially because her own father is Jacob's boss. But when Jacob hires her to plan a special birthday party for his niece, Marissa soon learns that Jacob is a hero in many ways. And that taking risks for love is what life and faith are truly about.

The Author:

Betsy St. Amant has a heart for three things - chocolate, red polka dot shoes, and sharing the amazing news of God's grace through her novels. She resides in northern Louisiana with her husband, Brandon, and they are currently expecting their first child. Betsy has a bachelor's degree in Christian Communications from Louisiana Baptist University and is actively pursuing a career in inspirational writing.

Mindy’s Musings:

It amazes me how everything seems to come full circle. I put my writing life on the backburner while I grow my art and beautibusiness. But it calls to me. Each and every day. Reading this book by my friend Betsy was a blessing.

This is a time in my life where I am learning to use my singleness to grow closer to God. I’m learning to be less selfish and more in tuned with others through service. I’m learning how to be Me, only better.

I’m learning that when there are lessons to be learned from Him, they seem to come at you from every angle. The sermon somehow applies to you. The commercial while you are working out is a message for you and you alone. In regular conversation with a stranger, their comment is geared toward whatever you are working on in life.

Did you write this for me, Betsy? You have a spiritual gift, a lovely gift, and His words reach out loud and clear.

Betsy’s book was a lesson for me. Here's why: I’m doing a bible study about how I’m “worth waiting for.” The first line made me say, “Hold up. You took the words right out of my mouth.” The lesson that things happen in God's timing not my timing proved to be a biggie for me. And the fact that no one gets in my own way better than I do.

I must say I am hooked. After finishing this story, I’m adding her to my “must read” stack. Betsy’s writing is compact and precise. Her descriptions true to life. I can smell the smoke and taste the hotdogs.

Thank you Betsy for writing such a heartwarming story. I look forward to the next one, because I will be reading it the second it finds its way to stores.

Learn more about Betsy and her newest book on her website at www.betsystamant.com .

My Lesson of the Day: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Time Marches On

2011-07-07T08:47:00.003-05:00

Summer is almost half way over, and I still have so much to do. My vacation looms closer and closer, and I haven't started to pack or plan or get excited yet. But it will be nice to get away and go on a new adventure with my fav lady, my mom.

I've received some information on teaching art classes to underprivileged kids, being an assistant at a home school style art class environment, illustrating a children's book, etc. So I have options but I have plenty of projects I'm already trying my hand at. Not sure which of these I'll take or even if I will take any. But I guess it's always nice to be asked.

I'm just going to let go and see where it takes me. I have one concern right now. 'm growing in my spirituality, and I don't want to lose momentum. I re-established my connection with God in September of 2010. With the holidays in retail, the 30 minute drive to my church, and the increase in gas prices, I wasn't as vigilant at going to church and taking the next steps so to speak.

So here I am 10 months later, yikes, and just finished part one of my Love. Grow. Reach classes at Family Life Church. Next is part two and signing up for water baptism. Life is exciting again. My heart is finally at peace.

I'm on the right track, but to where I'm not really sure. He has a bigger plan for me than even I can fathom. I for one can't wait to see where it goes.

My current lessons of the day: Enjoy your life each and every day. Don't put off what can be done today. Work less and play more. Remember everything is done on God's time not your time.

Its Time for a Spa Escape...

2011-06-29T11:51:00.003-05:00

Would you like some great deals on amazing BeautiControl products? Would you like to get together with some of your closest friends and family so that you can enjoy a Spa Escape? Host a Spa with me and Earn Free Gifts & Great Savings On Your Favorite Products! Hosting a Spa is FREE and FUN for you and your guests!

When you host a BeautiControl Spa, you simply email me your list of addresses to as many friends as you would like. I will then send them a postcard invitation. I show up on the day of the spa and pamper you all. Its easy and fun!

It's for relaxation. The refreshments can be super easy. Ice tea, lemonade, or water with lemon and a small vegetable tray. Don't worry about planning anything big. Your friends and family are here to see and hang out with you.

Here's what you can get for hosting an Spa:
FREE Soothing Spa Neckwrap --- booking gift
FREE Mini Spa Product --- for having 8 or more guests attend
FREE Mini Spa Product --- for turning in guest list within 3 days of booking
PLUS $150 (or more) of your choice in products for $35 --- with $500 in sales and 2 bookings of E-Spas or Spas (subject to change based on party sales and bookings)
PLUS Skin Care Set at 1/2 price! (Example: $68, your price $34!)
BONUS Hostess Bonus Certificate --- $10 off a $30 purchase, redeemable at E-Spas or Spas booked from yours
BONUS Preferred Hostess Discount --- For 1 year, enjoy 15% off all reorders

Did you know we can have a THEMED PARTY: Briday Spa, Baby Shower Spa, Birthday Spa, Margarita Spa, etc. The possibilities are endless.

I usually have spas on Sunday afternoons or Saturday afternoon/nights when I am off. I work a lot of hours at my regular jobs, but we can always work something out. If you are interested, just let me know and we will set something up!

There's just no escape...like a Spa Escape!

It's All In the Eyes

2011-06-24T15:24:00.004-05:00

I seem to have an addiction - well many really - but today we'll focus on how I have this crazy, obsessive, freakish desire to read constantly. I can never seem to get enough of books. I heart them, big big. Anyone who knows me knows I walk around with at least 3 items, in my bag, of the reading variety.

So I've been doing a bit of reading on my newest worrisome qualities. I've been noticing grey hairs and extra wrinkles lately. I refuse to let it give me a complex (no guys and girls that WAS NOT a complex I was having while I cried and fussed about it all day yesterday lol). I will age gracefully or not so gracefully, as I am intended. (But I wouldn't be me if I wouldn't try to do WHATEVER I have to in order to slow the process down a bit!)

After all of the sun burns, lack of drinking water, poor dieting habits, etc., my skin is a train wreck. And while I cannot change the damage of the past, that much, I can change how much damage happens in the future.

I was reading some interesting posts about (my favorite feature) the EYES, and came across this one by Jaks Lloyd, former photographic fashion model. Give it a read; she seems pretty knowledgeable. After the article, I will include some more personal tidbits.

"Understanding Eye Wrinkles

Three layers make up skin. The surface, visible layer is called the Epidermis.

Under the epidermis lies the middle layer known as the Dermis.

Beneath this is the Subcutaneous layer, the third innermost layer. As we age the dermis or middle layer looses it's elastic quality.

The dermis contains fibres called Elastin and a protein called Collagen, both of which prevent wrinkles and allow the skin to have that young, fresh look and feel.

The skin is able to retain moisture and the ability to stretch. As time goes by the dermis gradually loses both Elastin and Collagen, causing the skin to become thinner and less able to retain moisture.

The subcutaneous layer also begins to lose the fat that gives youthful skin that pleasant smooth look.

Wrinkles around the eyes, known as crows feet, and the brow also become visible due to the contraction of minute muscles just beneath the skin surrounding the area.

Age isn't the only thing that causes crows feet and furrowed brows, squinting can contribute to the wrinkles as well, in fact they're a significant cause.

The skins natural oil is called Sebum, and some people will have more and others will have less. The elastin quality will also vary from person to person so wrinkles can appear at an early age on the unfortunate or be delayed well into middle age.

Its all down to genes and lifestyle. My tips to slow down the onset of wrinkles. The first sign of wrinkling is around the eyes. You may look and feel great when you get a sun tan but nothing hastens the appearance of wrinkles than exposure to strong sunlight.

You may look wonderfully glamorous with that all over tan but, in time, you will more than likely look prematurely old as your skin withers and creases start to appear around your eyes and on your forehead.

Remember that when you first see somebody you both will look into each others eyes so it is important to keep them looking fresh and youthful for as long as possible.

So do not be tempted by the sun. Always use a high factor good quality sunblock, at least 20 SPF (Sun Protection Factor) or above (I always use 30 SPF even in late afternoon sun), and re-apply every 2-3 hours.

Sunglasses with high quality UV (Ultra Violet) reflecting lenses are an absolute essential and should be worn outside during daylight hours even when grey and murky. Guess what - UV rays can still get through on a dull day.

My personal preference is for Polaroid lenses with a coating on the rear to cut down on reflected glare although other types of UV filtering lenses are just as able to do a good job. Fortunately there is a huge choice of glamorous good quality designer shades to choose from.

Keep in mind that there's no sunblock or sunglass lens that will block out all harmful UV rays, so be particularly aware of the harm sunlight can do if your in an area where snow or water reflection is at its highest.

Lots of models smoke as this is a very stressful occupation. Models often have to attend several castings a day and each time put up with critical comments on their looks and their suitability for the job.

Living up to expectations when posing in front of the camera or walking the catwalk after hectic costume changes puts a strain on the nerves and a timely cigarette helps to relieve the tension.

However we are all aware that smoking hastens the onset of wrinkles and aging and can shorten our careers. One of the principal effects is that smoking deprives the skin of precious moisture and so hastens the drying out process.

Avoid smoky and badly ventilated atmospheres that can also have the same effect.

Don't spend too much time in front of a computer screen as this can cause eye strain and squinting.

Get an anti-glare filter and remember to keep looking away at least every 15 minutes and focus on another object.

Do not be tempted to go to a tanning booth. Although eye protection is provided, the exposure to artificial UV rays can hasten the onset of wrinkling as much as natural sunlight and there is an argument that the damage can be worse.

Drink plenty of water. I always carry a bottle of water wherever I go and I know most models do the same. Before going out in the evening I drink a pint of cool water so if I drink some wine it cuts down on that dehydrating effect that alcohol can have ' and helps to keep you sober.

Use a light moisturizer on your face every morning and every night without fail. Pay particular care around the eyes and to avoid stretching the skin use a gentle circular motion with your finger tips.

One tip my Mother taught me. Avoid resting your head on your hands as the upward pressure creases the skin particularly around the outside corner of the eye.

Professional modeling is just the same as any other career, to be successful you have to work at it. Eventually a models' looks will go, some will have only a short career others may go on for a lot longer before the inevitable happens.

Nine times out of ten the first sign is wrinkling around the eyes and the camera always notices it. The appearance of crows feet signals the onset of aging for all women so it is of the utmost importance to keep the eyes looking young and vital if you value your looks and want to create that great first impression when you meet someone new.

Eye Contact Is First Contact

Copyright 2006 Jaks Lloyd

Jaks Lloyd, former photographic fashion model, is the author of the above article which appears in her definitive website http://www.eyebeautytips.com The Ultimate Cutting Edge in Eye Beauty."

**********************HERE WE GO*************************

Now let me give you my thoughts and game plan for stopping aging of the eyes in its tracks...well at least as much as I can.

http://naturalbeautyguru.blogspot.com/2010/05/eye-creams-and-balms.html says "At the age of 12 we stop producing moisture under our eyes therefore eye cream is essential in preventing dark circles and crows feet."

AGE 12...OMG I'm 33. So thats many, many years of a drought...for sure. Anyway, theres no time like now to take care of the delicate skin of your peepers.

1. The skin around our eyes is more delicate than the rest of the skin on our faces. Rather than use the same cream, gel, or lotion used to clean your face, opt for a gentler cleaner made specifically for the eyes.

Skinlogics Lash and Lid Bath, our gentle make-up remover, cleanses and refreshes delicate eye area while removing the build-up of silicone, normally found in most eye shadows and eye shadow bases.

2. Use eye creams to replenish moisture around the eyes, since they have lost the ability to produce moisture by themselves.

BC Spa Facial Restructuring Eye Creme: This silky, hydrating formula utilizes an anti-aging complex of algae extract and peptides to target loss of firmness and fine lines and wrinkles around the eye area. An Advanced Antioxidant Complex consisting of encapsulated Resveratrol and vitamins protects skin from damaging free radicals.

Key benefits:
• Hyaluronic Filling Spheres penetrate the epidermis where they absorb moisture and instantly plump up, visibly reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
• Skin firming complex consisting of algae extract and peptides to provide immediate and long-term improvement in the appearance of slackened skin.
• Advanced Antioxidant Complex consisting of vitamins and encapsulated Resveratrol protects skin from environmental aggressors and free radical damage.

3. Find ways to reduce appearance of puffiness and dark circles.

BC Spa Solutions Under Eye Dark Circle & Puffiness Solution contains a 20% complex of super-concentrated active botanicals and caffeine to help reduce the appearance of puffiness and dark circles. This formula is a lightweight serum packaged in a unique roller ball applicator for quick, easy use.

Key Benefits:
• Stimulates the epidermis to help strengthen capillary walls and to produce collagen and elastin to effectively reduce the appearance of dark circles.
• Provides the optimal environment for the skin to flush out fluid that has built up under the eyes, reducing the appearance of puffiness and "bags".

And remember, never pull, push, or rub your eyes (ok I know we'll rub them but try not to.) When putting creams or makeup on your eyes, use your ring finger, which is the most gentle finger on our hands. Dab Dab Dab from the inner corner to the outside of your eyes.

I try to never go out without my polarized sunglasses. The bigger the frames the better they cover your eyes. Do it diva-style (your future self thanks you). Now I worked for an optometrist for 2 years. I learned that my company of choice for stellar polarized sunglasses was Maui Jim (http://www.mauijim.com/). And though I can't afford them anymore, I still have my trusty two favorite pairs that I bought many years ago and are still going strong. (Feel free to send me a gift card!)

These days we work too hard, play too hard, and live too hard. The truth is showing up where we least want it, on our skin. Our goal should be to stop the damage as much as and as soon as we can; in addition, we should work to undo whatever previous damage we can.

It's never too late to start giving our skin what it needs; but it's definitely better now than never.

You can find more information, products, and sales regarding BeautiControl on my website at www.beautipage.com/mindyblanchard . (Check out the WHO Sale where you can receive 10% off of a select group of products for online purchases only)

Interested in learning more, host a spa escape for yourself and your friends and your family. It's lots of fun and you can win some really cool prizes and receive discounts on products. Sign up for your spa today!

What's Next: Creating from the HeART.

2011-06-22T17:04:00.004-05:00

I've decided that my art classes will be centered around one theme: Creating from the HeART. I never saw myself as a teacher. Give me a dark corner and a good book or a piece of paper to play with and I'm happiest. But art has opened up so much inside of me. It has changed my perspective, and I love talking about it, sharing it, inspiring others.

I am a predominantly self-taught artist. I have yet to sit in a classroom and learn the basics. There is so much that I want to learn, so much that I want to do. But regardless of what I cannot do, I can sit down to a blank piece of paper and use my experiences and emotions to create something that captures the essence of that moment. I want to share that. I want to help others to reach deep inside themselves and open up their world to incorporate more of creativity into their lives, be it through art, art journaling, writing, etc.

I have no intention of teaching anyone how to re-create what I create, or do things "this" way. My intention is to help people reach within themselves to find something to create that is directly from their heART.

So with that in mind, my next class will be: Art Journaling (Part 1), This is a two part class, wherein you can attend either class and still receive something from them, but they are intended to work together. There will be things discussed at both classes that will not be addressed in the other, but they are both in reference to art journaling, what it is, what it means, how it can be used, etc.

Part 1 is focused with how to choose the right substrate, how to get started, layouts, general products, layers, etc. Part 2 will take it one step further, teaching techniques on different elements, transfers, etc.

Part 1 Class Date: Sat., July 16, 2011 @ 9:30am
Where: Hobby Lobby Classroom in Lafayette, LA
Cost: $10 on day of class
(Bring two pictures)
*CLASS IS LIMITED TO 20 STUDENTS ONLY!
SIGN UP TODAY!! via email.

During the class you will be working on a two page layout based on whatever you would like. The two pictures you would be could be used for inspiration pieces (one or both) as a basis for completing your first journaling pages. Do not bring one of a kind originals; bring pictures that you do not mind altering, cutting, gluing, etc.

Part 2 will be announced at a later date. There will be enough time in between for you to venture out into the world, choose your book, and create as many pages as you like, letting that initial creativity move you.

I hope to see you there.

2011-06-18T19:17:00.004-05:00

I tend to be a bit scatterbrained. I have too much going on and not sure where I'm going with it. I often cry out for help in figuring out how to manage my time better to include the balance that I so dearly wish for in my life.

This has led to putting my creativity on the backburner for a bit. Nothing drastic. I still work on my art when I feel like it; I just do not let it totally consume my free time.

I work too many hours a week. The rest of the time I want to fill with other things that I feel I've been neglecting:

I want to write but not necessarily get my head filled with the characters, storylines, backstories, etc of my regular paranormal romance stories. I just want to feel the keys flying under my fingers as I pour my words out onto the blank screen.

I want to exercise at least five times a week. I want to make healthier choices food wise and eat at home more. I want to learn how to COOK!

I want to focus on the business aspect of my: art, writing, beauticontrol, etc., and get better at doing the weekly business things that these ventures require me to do so that I'm not stuck killing myself around tax time trying to find receipts and papers and information when I have other things to do with my time. (Organization is key or so they say).

I want to focus on my spirituality and get to know God.

This is just a few. I will not bore you with the minutia.

Anyone who knows me, knows I usually have two books in my hand and at least one notebook to write it, at any given moment. Well, I usually can never find one of three pens or pencils in the bottom of my purse, but you know how that goes...sometimes I never have two things that work!

Lately I've been reading up a storm. Reading for the soul rather than reading the regular smut I love so much. (Though I started a smut book today - and I'm loving it). It all started because of the book I'm reading with my church's singles group, Lady in Waiting by Jackie Kendall and Debby Jones. I cannot express how this one book has changed my attitude since the first chapter.

I'm also reading passages from the Bible associated with the Bible study and just choosing different verses. Outside of catechism assignments, I'm not sure I ever looked inside of the Bible before. It's kinda daunting at first but I just take it one page at a time.

I'm reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Really good insight into the soul and into asking questions about what you are doing with your life and how you can make the changes necessary.

All of this book reading is taking a lot of time to get through (even for someone like me, who can read a 500 page novel in four hours). So I've set a schedule to map out my work schedule and days to do different chores and work on different aspects of my life (Workout, Bible Study, Drawing Exercises, Business, Writing).

I am using my blog to slowly get back into writing. I'm going through all of the drawing and art books I have purchased and I'm actually spending an hour every few days working on them (so much better than collecting dust). I have two hours a week to get the business in gear. I even schedule housework (don't laugh I hate doing it and I could really care less if it isn't done today). Yes I'm lazy, and doesn't that just explain it all.

My life worked better when I had a schedule, working two jobs, going to night school at UL. I had only a small window of opportunity to get things done, and I couldn't play around. Now I have so much time on my hands, I can't find the desire or time to do anything. It's weird how that works, huh?

I'm taking it all in, one bit at a time. The projects will get done at my own slow pace, which is better than not at all. It's getting better and less daunting, and I'm loving the changes I've made in my life.

I'm not turning into a holy-rolly. I'm just turning into a better version of me. It's quite a ride, and it sure beats the alternative.

Birchbox Favorite Finds

2011-06-17T22:43:00.003-05:00

I really like to try new products that I can't afford; but I really really like to try it for only a fraction of the cost. I listen to 102.5 every morning on the way to and from work. Jenna gave a beauty tip one day about Birchbox. I was intrigued. So I researched it, and I thought what the heck, for I would try it for a few months and check it out.

Basically I pay $10 a month and they mail me a few beauty samples. I've received some pretty interesting products so far. Some I wouldn't ever buy for myself, but I like the perfume samples, eye shadow, hair products, etc.

Let's be honest, I could never afford this stuff. But its nice to try it out. The newest products I'm impressed with in my June box is the amika oil treatment for hair and laura geller makeup in apricot berry - love love love it.

So maybe you are like me and are interested in trying new products for a fraction of the cost. Or maybe you just want a tiny glimpse of how the "other" folks live. Whatever the reason, this is a cool idea; I'm always excited when I know its coming and when I receive it. It's like a mini-Christmas present to myself 12 months out of the year.

To find out more go to http://www.birchbox.com/ .

Don't forget about what's new in my life. The next art class will be TOMORROW. If you can make it to my neck of the woods, then I will see you there:

Artist Trading Card (ATC) Class by
MINDY BLANCHARD
Date: Sat., June 18, 2011 @ 10:30am
Where: Hobby Lobby Classroom in Lafayette, LA
Cost: $10 on day of class
(Includes goody bag with supplies to complete 2 ATCs)
Perfect for ages 6 - adulthood
*CLASS IS LIMITED TO 20 STUDENTS ONLY!
SIGN UP TODAY!!*

This is the last ATC class this season. Next up: art journaling!

How I survive!

2011-06-15T21:41:00.003-05:00

I'm 33 years old, and I work between 33 and 45 hours a week in retail. It's a hard job. When I started 18 months ago, I could barely make it at the end of the day. My feet were killing me. After walking all over the store, climbing up ladders, did I mention walking all over the store???

Going from a desk job to a full body job was not one I was prepared for. Times are tough and you do what you have to do.

Regardless of the drama, I made it. I learned my lesson about a good pair of tennis shoes and gel insoles will get you through almost anything. After 18 months my stamina has increased. I can climb up and down ladders without feeling the burn, mostly. I can usually go the whole shift (except for truck days) without complaining.

For the health and weight aspect of my life, I've joined Weight Watchers for the last time. This time it's for life. This time I'm going to exercise and make better choices and live a healthier life so that I can overcome some of these issues before I get any older.

For the stamina and dealing with it every day aspect of my life, I have a secret weapon. (Don't worry; I'll let you in on it.)

I have a now almost-empty bottle of Sports Therapy bath salts (that I bought from Walmart a million years ago - can't find it anymore and I'm using it sparingly) I put in my bath when my legs do not want to work anymore. But for the past 5 months or so, I stepped it up a notch.

These are the products that make my life easier, that help me to get up and go day after day.

Sundays that I am off, I have a Sunday Spa Day, which is a 1 to 2 hour period strictly for me to destress and unwind and relax. If I'm giving a spa, then that usually does the de-stressing for me. (If you want to host a party let me know!)

Otherwise, my beautiful BeautiControl Consultant (me), prescribes the following as needed:

On the neck and shoulders: Luxuries of the Sea Instant Relief Gel is designed to relieve your sore and achy muscles and joints by simply massaging some gel on your achy area. Fast penetrating, fragrance-free gel feels weightless and non-greasy on the skin.

https://shop.beauticontrol.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10551&productId=40681&langId=-1

On the face: Fango Seaweed Scrub/Masque is a double-duty treatment offering the detoxifying and skin refining benefits of a masque and the exfoliating benefits of a scrub? all in one product.

https://shop.beauticontrol.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10551&productId=40600&langId=-1

In the bathwater, a two-part dream team: BC Spa Body Therapeutic Bath Minerals - Relieve stress and transform your bath into an oasis of healing, green thermal waters with BC Spa Body Therapeutic Bath Minerals. Fine crystal minerals from the Dead Sea comfort tired muscles and nourish skin.

BC Spa Detox Refreshing Mist - Rejuvenate your senses with a scientific blend of natural ingredients and aromatherapeutic essential oils. Spray on face or body for instant refreshment.

Then I soak in the tub with a glass of wine (optional) or water and a book. It's definitely one of the highlights of my week, which is kind of sad, but it is life-changing never-the-less.

There's Beauty and then there's Therapy and then there are amazing products that can do both. Find out more about the products and place an order on my online website at http://www.beautipage.com/mindyblanchard/ . (There's even a sale on certain select products when purchased online. Gotta love it on sale!)

Lesson of the day: Must take care of yourself, inside and out.
Stress level: 1.5
Relaxation level: 12
Life is good!

What is my purpose?

2011-06-12T13:51:00.004-05:00

I'm currently at a loss - sitting around, being ineffectively lazy and confused, unsure of what my next move should be.

I've missed blogging and writing so much lately. There's always time; I just keep choosing to focus on something else. There is so much I want to do with this life; I end up having way too many balls in the air.

Next weekend, I will be teaching my second art class:

Artist Trading Card (ATC) Class by
MINDY BLANCHARD
Date: Sat., June 18, 2011 @ 10:30am
Where: Hobby Lobby Classroom
Cost: $10 on day of class
(Includes goody bag with supplies to complete 2 ATCs)
Perfect for ages 6 - adulthood
*CLASS IS LIMITED TO 20 STUDENTS ONLY!
SIGN UP TODAY!!*

I also plan to teach some basic crochet classes at Hobby Lobby - get this - for FREE! It will be a "Crochet for a Cause" kind of thing. One hour every so often to get together and learn a new stitch and tips and receive help. The only cost for admission will be some form of donation to be determined later (This would have been a great idea to help my church gather socks, underwear, and shoes for kids aged 6-12 for a mission in Guatemala - but I'm too late for that).

I am working on 4 different collaborations right now. Those always take time but are so fun. I will have a class on collabs at a later date. There will be a collaborative exercise in class that will push us outside of our comfort zones and will be tons of fun.

Art journaling is the next class on my list after the ATC this weekend. I cannot wait to get started on the class details.

I need to step my game up a notch for BeautiControl. My purpose of selling BeautiControl is to give me extra income so that I can create art and write freely, to help support my regular income. It has become an expense itself and I have not been working it to its fullest like I had planned.

I miss writing. But I've been spending so much time learning lately. I've been reading the greatest Book ever written - the Bible - and getting to know God and myself, learning and growing my faith. That is a journey within itself, which I do not want bogged down with worries over everything else.

Some people find themselves uncomfortable around me lately. I'm still me, just stronger and a little more hopeful. We can all use more hope these days. I'm not trying to change you, but its always been in my nature to share everything with everyone that I come into contact with. It's the same as with my writing, my art, my jewelry, my life. Why should my faith be any different? So don't be worried. Don't be alarmed. We're all good.

I'm enjoying my time, since I have removed a lot of the restrictions I had set upon myself recently. Its slow at work, but I know that with the holidays coming up we will be swamped and I will yearn for these slow summer days. I've been working more on my health, scheduling workout sessions and finding a workout partner.

I have not found my balance, in this so-called crazy life of mine, but I'm getting there. Every day I grow stronger in faith and heart and every day I work toward being the person that I know I am meant to be rather than the person I want to be.

It's not always a wild ride. Sometimes there's a lull in the storm. We need the calm to refresh us. We need time to heal us.

I'm looking forward to the days ahead. I'm looking forward to learning what I learn during this journey.

Time To Move On

2011-03-16T14:14:00.004-05:00

It had been so long since I last posted a blog, I actually forgot the web address. Lots of things happened at the end of 2010. I was supposed to start a brand new era of my life, but like most things...that crashed and burned.

So it was a slow process but I've managed to put the pieces back together, make a few more mistakes, make a large number of good and bad choices, and here we are today.

I'm painting again. I'm writing again. I'm getting things together to work on self-publishing my first book, recapturing the journey of my Sketchbook Project 2011 journal, which is currently on display in Austin, TX but will be primarily on display in Brooklyn, NY and will travel to 4 other locations around the United States this year.

I received some bad news this past month. The gallery where my artwork is currently available for sale in New Orleans, LA, may no longer be able to continue showing my work, not me specifically but artwork not associated with its new arty owners. So its time to figure out what to do with my art in 2011.

Despite the bad, there are good times ahead.

I've contacted some galleries and hope to have my work on display at the November, 2011, 2nd Saturday Artwalk, just in time for Christmas! (fingers crossed). I plan on entering a contest through a local guild to for exhibit at Barnes and Noble in April, 2011. I will also be joining local artists in Washington, LA for Artmania on April 16, 2011.

Now I'm looking for a local gallery to showcase my work in the area. I have faith that the best place will be available to me soon.

I'm painting. I'm writing. I'm selling BeautiControl. I'm joining a sorority. I'm on the WRITE path. (lol) 2011 will indeed be a great year.

I plan on doing a better job of keeping up with my blog posts, so come back and read about whats going on in my...so called life.

Where is Life taking Me?

2010-09-09T07:29:00.005-05:00

2010 is shaping up to be nothing like I could have ever envisioned.

I've just come back from a great trip to Dallas, Texas. I'm working on the possibility of moving and being there at the beginning of next year. Life is spiraling and I can hardly complain.

but...I miss writing. I miss painting.

I've been focused on getting the business aspect of my art together and it's left me with little to no time for pure creativity. I need to get back to the basics...and soon.

This year has brought many good things with my art. I've branched out into creating prints, greeting cards, and charmed art from my original art pieces. I'm hoping to eventually get into magnets, shirts, etc. One of my art journal pages was published this past August in "Many Hands, Many Lands" on Blurb from Gary Reef's online community. You can purchase the wonderful book filled with pages of inspirational art online at http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1428133 .

It seems like all my posts during the past few years are cries for more creativity. I'm doing it, just not as much as I would like to. There's so much more to being creative than just writing or creating art. The business aspect of it all is where the "hard" lies.

But despite the changes in my life, I'll be back on track with my writing and my art soon. I can feel it, just around the bend.

Its funny how things are sometimes. I'm loving all aspects of my life right this minute. I've been living a more healthy lifestyle, well up until 2 weeks ago, but I'll get back to that soon. I've lost 13 pounds so far and plan on going for many more this time around.

I'm looking forward to all of the changes coming my way. I have so much hope for the future.

Change Is Upon Us

2010-05-31T09:05:00.003-05:00

It's amazing to me how there are special moments in our lives that shine in ways that you never expect or hoped to expect, and you simply know you will carry these treasures with you for years to come.

I sit on the cusp of living a truly creative life, and all I can do is smile. My muse is back. Not that she left me, she simply needs vacations as much as I do, and I can totally understand that!

She was vacationing somewhere great, I'm sure; and I cannot wait to hear the details of her travels. But that will come later. For now, she brings gifts from her travels: images and words of how a jaded vampire crashes into the life of a sexy baker, as they work together to solve another death, find a killer, and save themselves.

This story has been brewing for months now; waiting, percolating. This all began as a short story I wrote in 2007. I simply knew the main character deserved a chance to have his story told. And the time is now. I can't wait to learn Fin's story as he meets his heroine, and they fight to save themselves (and the world) from some catastrophe or another.

My artwork has taken off. It's amazing to me that I started my artful journey less than a year ago, in July, 2009, and I've gotten this far. I am so grateful for all of the love and support I receive that enables me to reach for my dreams! Thank you cheerleaders, I love you so much!!

I see a dream of my future held deeply in my heart, hoping against hope that it will lead to something. Some things do, some don't. You just never know where this journey will take you. Until then, you'll find me covered in paint or ink, typing and drawing from the heart, while I wait, ever dreaming...

Long Awaited Journey

2010-05-28T21:16:00.003-05:00

May 23, 2010 I traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana with 2 friends in celebration of birthdays (me and Katrina - Happy Birthday, Katrina), to check out my artwork at the Rougarou Trading Post art gallery, and to drop off some more goodies.

Talk about a fun-filled day complete with laughs, good food and drinks, and did I mention laughs. Chris and Katrina, you guys are a hoot. I'll take a road trip with you anytime!!

I find it very fitting that the picture on my blog of New Orleans has been a constant in my writing/art life since the beginning. Its funny that my artwork would first be showcased in this city of my heart!

Here's a glimpse of my artwork.

The layout is great. Not too sure about location. It is located right near the checkout, but we all missed it, twice. Another friend of mine took a trip to NOLA and stopped by to see my artwork. They had a hard time finding it, too. We were looking for it and missed it. Doesn't bode well for those that have no idea who I am. How will they see my artwork, I wonder?

Well I'm back to my writing. A new story is percolating. While its doing its thing in my head, I'm working on a plot board, combining my art with my writing goals to keep me writing.

Feeling good. Looking forward to a 3 day weekend. I really really need this one! And I'm in dire need of some art time!!!

Time Marches On

2010-05-14T08:06:00.003-05:00

It definitely feels like life is flying by. The days flow from one to another so seamlessly, one wonders where their life has gone.

I still feel like New Years was just yesterday but it is already May. OMG.

I'm forever working on growing the Business side of my art and writing. A new story is percolating in my head. I'm hoping to have the storyline plotted out and to start fresh with a NANOWRIMO of my own in June. I know I can do this. But this time around I'm starting small, 30-60,000 words tops. Otherwise, I will once again intimidate myself into quitting.

I can't wait to head over to NOLA next weekend to see the layout of my art at the Rougarou gallery. My excitement is the only thing keeping this week from passing any quicker. I just received blank greeting card prints of my original artwork and they are fabulous. I purchased them from www.moo.com. Great website. Great end results for those that are interested.

Life is throwing me some interesting curve balls at this time. I can't wait to see where it all goes.

The Road to an Art Gallery!

2010-05-08T09:26:00.006-05:00

My blogs have become non-existent during the latter part of last year and beginning of this year. So much has happened/changed in my life; I hardly recognize this life as being mine.

I changed jobs, traveled to Europe, and accepted more responsibility at work.

All this means is that I've become more separated from others and lost within myself. The business of writing and art brings a whole new dimension to the act of creation. As if it isn't hard enough to get 'er done, now there are worries about portfolios, promotion, marketing, career plans, resumes...ugh. It's quite daunting.

In 2009, writing took a backseat to starting the business of art and all that it entailed: putting my art for sale, making my first sale, artist portfolio, writing portfolio, creating art, etc.

A lot of work was done until I left for Europe. Since I returned from Europe, I gained more responsibility from my day job, requiring more sleep than normal (lol). (Man, I am soooo freaking tired lately!)

Tax season is always a trip. So many receipts to itemize and get to my accountant. Sadly that took 4 months until the bitter tax deadline date.

Now that taxes have been turned in, it's time to get my writing desk, studio, car, and house in order. Always something to do. I spend more time shuffling papers than anything else.

One of the problems I struggled with was having so many finished canvases collecting dust around my home. Now, I'm proud to announce, that yesterday I drove to New Orleans, Louisiana to drop of ten pieces of my original artwork at Rougarou Bayou – Riverfront Trading Post, "located on Level B of Riverwalk Marketplace, (which) features an eclectic collection of original art and artisan crafts from more than 60 New Orleans and surrounding area artists...features glass art, handcrafted... jewelry, candles, photography, collage and fabric art, and mixed media creations."

It amazes me the mysteries of life: "The Rougarou (alternately spelled as Roux-Ga-Roux, Rugaroo, or Rugaru), is a kind of werewolf in the Cajun folklore of French Louisiana". This is funny because as a paranormal writer, who has been working on a werewolf series for the past two years, it's quite fitting that the first art gallery where my work will be displayed would be named such, and I've been dying to write about a loup garou!

I faced what many writers and artists face, dreaded rejection, moreso than acceptance for the past couple years. Rejections happen and this we know. We understand we need a thicker skin, but it doesn't make it hurt any less.

I was stood up at an important appointment with a business to review my art porfolio this year. It left me shattered. A wise friend at work, Darcy, said, "girl walk it off; something is better out there for you." (Thats the jist; I can't remember her words of gold today; hey I was working. I was probably stressed/depressed already on top of the new depression. lol) But Darcy, girl were you right!

I have now updated my artist resume with the gallery listing and plan on getting back to the writing and art(ing) work as soon as my life is set to rights. I have been working on phase two of my art journey: jewelry charms and greeting cards of select pieces of my artwork. Those are in process and should be available soon.

I am a writer at heart. Anyone who knows me knows this. The art just came out of nowhere. But the difference, which I love between the two, is that art gives instant gratification. You start it. You finish it. You review it. You fix it; hey maybe you don't. But the bottom line is: it's done. Sure, ten months later you can revisit it and fix a few flaws, same as writing, but with writing there are edits, critiques, rewrites and so much blood spilt.

I attended my first Women of Faith Conference, which rocked my world out of axis. I'm still trying to recover with the new good stuff that it has brought into my life: being reacquainted with faith, a new hope for Edit - the little girl from Bolivia I am sponsoring, strengthened friendships, and an upcoming mission trip to Mexico.

It's been a wild ride, and I really wish I had the time to get done all of the ideas / plans that run through my head done. The European story and canvas series are fighting to get out. But I haven't had a chance to take a breath, much less get them started. Where does the time go, I wonder.

Hopefully, I will get back to the studio quickly. I've missed writing, blogging, and reading blogs. It's definitely time to re-prioritize things.

Food: none
Drink: Dr. Pepper
Music: none, I need a nap.
Mood: very very happy and mello!

D.B. Grady Blog Tour

2010-03-08T16:36:00.001-06:00

On the Business of Books and Bruce Campbell
Welcome to week 2 of the Red'>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0964167433?ie=UTF8&tag=dbgr-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0964167433">Red Planet Noir blog book tour. Mindy was very kind to offer this space today, and suggested I write about the business of writing.

On most days it feels like what I know about the business of writing, "you could fit into a matchbox without taking out the matches first." (To borrow a line from Douglas Adams, who no longer needs it.) I went into the business blind and naive. I did my homework. I read all the right blogs and websites and books, but everything I really learned has been through one mistake or another.

So I wouldn't presume to give advice, and anyway, the publishing business is in turmoil and nobody's really sure what's up and where's down. But here's a good social suggestion: until you're published -- until the contract is signed, anyway -- don't tell anyone you're a writer. Yes, you've written millions of words. Your mom loves them. In your mind, you're having dinner parties with Richard Russo and Philip Roth. But unless somebody's written a check for your words, just say you're a prostitute or drug dealer. It's a lot easier for everyone involved.

There is a perception out there that once you've completed a manuscript, the book is magically published, and Barnes and Noble has immediate plans to erect a turret display. Non-writers don't know about arduous months of queries and rejections. The contracts and copyediting and delays. The sweating over the cover and everything else that comes with typing THE END.

Before Red'>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0964167433?ie=UTF8&tag=dbgr-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0964167433">Red Planet Noir was released -- before I'd even been accepted by a publisher -- the most common questions I heard was:

Who do you want to be in the movie?

After the book came out, the most common question I heard was:

Are they talking about a movie yet?

(Runner-up question: Do you think you'll get on Oprah?)

These are innocent questions, and completely understandable. (God I wish they -- whoever they are -- were talking about making a movie. And Oprah, I've got rollover minutes. Let's chat.) I have no idea how contractors build houses or how cash registers work. Why should readers know how books are made?

Numbers vary depending on the source, but two frequently cited statistics say that forty percent of people read one book a year, and twenty-five percent of people read no books at all. That means if someone's read a book, it was probably written by J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, or John Grisham. In other words, in the universe of the average reader, every book written really does get made into a movie.

Once you've said, "I'm a writer," but no book suddenly appears, people look on you with pity. "He's a writer," they say, but the same way they might say, "He's homeless."

So start with drug dealer. Beat them to the punch.

Here are a few things I've learned though error and inexperience. Your mileage may vary:

1. Get an agent. I don't have one, and a great many of my headaches could have been avoided with someone savvy on my behalf. Stephen King advises not to bother with an agent until you've made enough money worth stealing. He's probably right, but at the same time, agents open doors to publishing houses that my query letter alone never will. If I don't snag an agent with my next manuscript, I'm shelving the project and starting another. It's that important.

2. Set in for the long haul. You might get an immediate yes. My editor at http://www.theatlantic.com">The Atlantic has never had a piece of writing rejected. (And I believe it -- he's a genius.) I've not been so lucky, and I think my experience is in line with most writers. There's no shame in it. His Holiness Philip K. Dick wallpapered his study with rejection slips so that he'd never forget how lucky he was.

Even once you get that wondrous yes, don't expect things to steamroll along. Red'>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0964167433?ie=UTF8&tag=dbgr-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0964167433">Red Planet Noir was supposed to be released in August 2009. Then November. Then the first week of December. It didn't appear on Amazon until midway through December, and because of a database mistake in Ingram's [the distributor] database, wasn't available for order by bookstores and didn't proliferate across the web until January 2010.

Frustrating? Only until the first glass of Scotch in the morning, and that last drop by mid-afternoon. (Then it became frustrating again.)

Every delay was a comedy of errors -- nobody's fault, really -- just a lot of one-of-those-things. In the end, my publisher produced a fine book that my mom really likes. (My mom is reading this, and I promised I'd tell her hello. So: "Hi Mom! Stay out of the comments!")

3. Build a platform. This is the one thing I largely did right. By the book's release, I had a relatively strong web presence and an active Twitter army eager to help get the word out. I suspect that well over half of my sales are due to the kindness of strangers.

4. Join a local writers group. Through my group, I've met authors, editors, journalists and readers who've supported me in ways I never expected. And this isn't even to mention the tremendous collected wisdom and infectious enthusiasm for the written word they've shared. They're my home field, and I love them for it.

5. Attend conferences. Don't bust the budget on this, though. (Warning: that might be bad advice. Maybe it would be worth the plane ticket and hotel room to fly to San Francisco or wherever.) Don't overlook the locals:

Louisiana has three major writing conferences that I'm aware of. I'm pretty sure every state does. You never know who you're going to meet. And I've never failed to learn something, get inspired, or make a new friend or great connection.

6. Have your book contract reviewed by publishing contract lawyers. Obviously, a good agent can handle this, but it's also a free service for members of the Authors Guild. I wasn't a member when I signed a contract for Red Planet Noir, but I am now. (Check out their site for membership eligibility. These men and women are fighting the good fight on our behalf.)

7. Don't expect to get rich. If you want to make more money than a writer, get a job at Burger King.

8. Don't settle.

These are just a few things I've learned the hard way. I've stepped on quite a few other land mines (so far), but I've got to save something for cocktail parties when I'm fabulously successful. Or something for the bartender when I'm an abysmal failure.

And just for the record, Mike Sheppard, the protagonist of Red'>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0964167433?ie=UTF8&tag=dbgr-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0964167433">Red Planet Noir, can only be played by Bruce Campbell.

If only they'd call.

Tomorrow I'll be at http://odyg.wordpress.com/">Ody Granados's blog explaining, "how an I.T. guy ends up in Afghanistan and how a soldier writes this awesome book, now available at Amazon.com." (His words, not mine, though he's clearly a man of good taste in literature.)

Thanks, Mindy, for inviting me to write today! I hope to see everyone tomorrow.
--
D.B. Grady is the author of Red'>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0964167433?ie=UTF8&tag=dbgr-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0964167433">Red Planet Noir. He can be found on the web at http://www.dbgrady.com.

To Health Insure or Not To Health Insure

2010-03-02T16:07:00.003-06:00

I'm taking my blog to a whole other level today.

Yes, you read that right, Mindy is serious! Seriously tired of money and health issues.

Money and health insurance are issues we all deal with, and as they are in the forefront of my ever-tired mind, courtesy of the new sexy black walking boot I'm forced to wear, which is paid for solely by my wonderful self, I feel the need to spread the knowledge your way.

Hopefully my trials can shed some light into the lives of anyone struggling with these issues and hey if you know something I don't (which I'm sure just about everyone does as I avoid the realities of life) then send some knowledge my way, my friend.

I'm currently battling previous choices and an economic crisis after crisis that has resulted in my current situation, making half of what I used to make, with lower health insurance that covers absolutely nothing.

When you are cutting expenditures left and right, battling for every dollar spent on your monthly budget, how do you decide what to keep and what to cut?

My previous health insurance spoiled me. I know what happens when you have health issues which you ignore and eventually things are worse than they ever had the potential of being. So I go to the doctor whenever I notice something amiss.

A young, 30 year old single female, suffering from a health problem list a mile long, what's a girl to do?

I purchased COBRA for 2 months after leaving my last job at a whopping $500 a month. The research for insurance options out there was quite eye-opening. High monthly premiums, copays and deductibles filled my google pages. My options were averaging about $250 a month.

My research brought me to a choice which I thought was reasonable. I learned about short term medical plans. For about $80 a month I received short term medical insurance coverage for a 6 month period. This plan allows for 2 short term periods of coverage (12 months total) but anything happening before each "term" takes affect is considered pre-existing and is not covered.

There goes my bi-weekly allergy shots. So basically I'm paying some money each month and all doctor visits are applying toward my current deductible. I will almost reach the deductible amount and it will be time for my new "term" to take affect if I choose. So I will be starting my deductible from scratch. What a mess!

So the research of viable insurance plans continues. I'm reading on mini-med plans and gap plans, with barely any options in sight. My prescription medication has become optional and all bet fallen off of my monthly budget. My doctor about fell out of his chair when I explained to him that I stopped taking the medicine, cold turkey. So those were withdrawals I have been experiencing in the past few months, who knew. (That really explains so much!)

With a struggling job market, employers choosing to leave employees part time to avoid additional costs and preventing them from acquiring healthcare, it seems that dropping insurance and "taking my chances" may be the only option available in my future.

I have two more months before it hits the fan and I have to make a decision on what to do next. Hopefully, the tides turn in a direction that is more affordable so that my "health" doesn't become optional, too.

Are you taking care of your health lately? Researching other options available? You may wish to research whether the alternatives to regular healthcare (short term, mini-med, and gap) would benefit you in any way.

Just Another Day in Paradise

2010-02-25T17:40:00.003-06:00

I have recently reacquainted myself with one of my most prized tools as a writer, my critique group. Scheduling conflicts have lead us astray for the latter half of last year, but we are reevaluating and changing days and it looks like we may have found a happy medium.

Our little group originally consisted of 6 writers in varying genres but with a common denominator, we love to write and are passionate about getting our stories down. Our stories range from novels, short stories, thriller, science fiction, crime, fantasy, articles, business writing, throw in some poetry and snapshots of life and we have it all.

Having a critique group is priceless. Everyone brings varying degrees of input and insights. A great group can help by asking you the questions you didn't think of in the first place, further fleshing out characters and scenes, and helping you find markets you didn't think of for your work.

I get the best of both worlds. I get a fantastic critique group complete with masterful brainstorming sessions. Meeting over drinks or dinner, we throw ideas around, play what-ifs, brainstorm plot and characters.

With such a crack team, I know our writing will be better than it ever could have been working alone. And the fabulous support system it brings isn't so bad either.

I left our meeting yesterday invigorated and ready to plot and work that short story that has been brewing in my head onto paper, and better equipped to say what I wanted to say on the first draft instead of playing my favorite game of chasing my writer's tail/tale (ha, works both ways).

I sprained my ankle last night. Slept horribly in pain without any meds or ice or anything needed to fix a sprain. I headed to the ER this morning to spend money that I don't have and to get info that I could have retrieved off of my wonderful computer. Life is grand indeed.

Pain induced combined with sleep deprived, I made poor decisions which may affect my already straining working life. But I can't change that now. What's done is done and will have to be dealt with as it happens. I can just pray for mercy and hope for the best.

If there is anything worse than being at home, bored, tired of reading, tired of sleeping, miserable, elevating/ice packing/compressing a swollen foot, I just don't know. Relief came by way of the wonderful FEDEx man who delivered a package of art supplies I ordered last week.

With an elevated foot and using my "new to me" wonderful drawing board that my mom picked up at a garage sale for $1, I worked on my current art work in progress, my self portrait. I just wanted to tell my artsy friends out there about a product that I love, love, love.

Tim Holtz distress ink crackle paint is a must have. (I'll add pics later once my invalid stage ends). I'm a fan of using crackle paint, and the old way that I did it included mixing a cheap crackle medium with the acrylic color of my choice and painting it onto the page. Other than having to wash the mixer, there really isn't any other steps than that and its super easy.

But the ingenious behind Tim Holtz products never fails to astound me. The paint is thick and gooey and the end result crackle affect alters in size based on the amount of paint applied on the area. It dries quickly and works favorable with a heat tool. Tim Holtz distress ink pads can be added (once fully dry) to enhance the antiquing affect and look of the cracks. Truly fabulous. I love love love it. Get it online at http://www.misterart.com/ or http://www.dickblick.com/.

Art heals in more ways that we ever know or understand. Looking back at my original art journals, the pain flows off of the pages. I sometimes wonder how I lived with so much anger and hurt. My more recent books are fresh, healthier, happier.

Yet sometimes I feel that opening myself up to art may have stinted my writing capabilities. My words are not as sharp and great as they used to be. Maybe I'll have to sacrifice my old writing style for my art. Hopefully, there isn't a limit to the amount of creativity available. Either way, this is something I will deal with as it comes.

I'm a writer, an artist, and a liver of the creative life. What will you create today?

**Note: I have not been paid for or by any company, etc for posting this blog. All products discussed were purchased by me with my own hard earned cash from the retail and home health businesses.

The Turning Tides

2010-02-12T08:08:00.003-06:00

It seems I only post when I have some bad news to share. Or maybe its just that there is only bad news going on in my life. Anyways, this was a rough week. I found out that I will be losing hours at both jobs. 15 hrs from my main job and still not sure about the second one.

I've been searching everywhere looking for the next career path for me, and I just haven't found anything. Its hard to find a career path in life when all you know for sure is that you want to eventually be able to write and create art full time. Distant dreams that require more work on my part if I ever hope to fulfill them.

Going to college is a constant goal of mine because I have a constant need to learn new things. Being a college graduate is a goal that I set for myself a long time ago. I wanted to be the first in my family to graduate and that alone is the only reason that motivates me to finish my degree. I am 6 classes away. So close and yet so far. I will graduate one day; in what, it doesn't really matter. But one day I will be able to say, "I started, I stopped, I tried again and again, and I did it. I graduated!"

But regardless, the fact is that my college choices do not affect me in terms of setting the path to lead to my "dream job." I can be a writer and an artist without ever receiving the slip of paper that says I stuck it out, against all odds and without any financial aid. But I want to be a writer and an artist that completed a goal of graduating from college that she set for herself so long ago. But for now this dream is on the back burner as I struggle to find a place for myself in the working world.

Reviewing past choices, I realize that I may have been hasty in my past decisions. But either way, whats done is done and this is the path before me. Sink or swim time.

I had an appointment with a business this week regarding possibly exhibiting my artwork. After being stood up, I had a momentary period of bitterness and depression. But this is only a minor dip...I will find a home for my art soon.

I visited with my critique group for the first time in eons. It felt wonderful. I missed those guys and gal so much. Their input really makes in difference in my writing. We are two short from where we started, and I miss those guys a bunch and pray that life will somehow bring them back to us. But as with all other aspects of life, what will be will be.

I feel that the new amount of "free" time I now find myself with will aid me in my goals. I have a career plan but now I need to work on my writing portfolio. It's time to get things in order. I have a few short stories percolating and a few submissions to send off. It feels so good to be back to my writing. I'm taking an online course on drawing and I love how casual it is. I put creating art to the side while I work on getting my house and art studio back in working order.

Artwise, I'm working on a project called Paint and Pass with 4 fellow artists and friends. I finished my portion of the piece and sent it to the next person on the list. I can't wait to see the finished product which will look great on my wall!

I can now find a balance between my health, home, and career goals, thanks to this new found free time. I can have time to truly work out, work on the relationships that I've neglected this past year with the ups and downs in my life, and sit butt to chair and write, draw, paint, create.

February is a busy month for me. I have so many deadlines for the end of the month, and I'm not quite sure if I will meet them. I mailed off one set of ATCs but I have 3 more sets due by the end of the month. I have a week to go and I better get a move on it.

There is a perfect short story competition that is unfortunately too close to meet, but the theme is one that I'll add to my to do list as its one that I know is a story for me.

My goals are to finish things. Start smaller instead of bigger. Get one level done and accomplished and then move on, "inch by inch, page by page" is my new philosophy.

Good times are up ahead. I put my faith where it belongs and know that I will be taken care of. All I can do is the best that I can do and know that the rest will come.

So I'm off to do a bit of writing before work. The tide is about to change for sure. I can feel it! Happy creating!

Career Planning

2010-01-24T11:19:00.007-06:00

I awoke fresh and ready for life after watching a great movie, Leap Year, and getting a good nights sleep. Now I believe I will dust off my superpowers and take over the writing world...well maybe not so much...but I am ready to kick my writing life back into gear.

I've learned many things over the past year. Most of all I've learned that I cannot suppress who I am and what I want most in life. It always has a way of seeping out of the cracks and crevices and finding itself smack dab in my face, each and every time.

So I need to find balance - a way to feed my need to continuously learn new things, my art, and my writing. I can now look at my current hiatus away from the university classroom as a time for me to figure out how to find a balance between all that I want without fear of any other responsibilities aka procrastinations "getting in my way."

I spent yesterday in the presence of Writers Guild of Acadiana members, friends, and Cherry Adair. That woman is amazing. She bounced all kinds of knowledge and tips around us in a blazing orange ball that is her astounding energy...where does she store it, I wonder?

So now I sit and stew and plan...on making and finishing a career plan....and getting back to my first love, writing. I started writing my novel, Wolf Moon, in March, 2008. I fiddled a bit on it until NANOWRIMO 2008. Now I am the "proud" owner of 90k words of a story where I'm chasing my tail with nowhere to go. But I'm not putting it down even though it should be considered 'dead' and be buried.

I will poke and prod that thing into making a plan, outline, beginning/middle/end, etc...I will get this done. I'm giving myself one more year to finish her up...or I'm sending her to the trash pile. So what's it to be? I guess I need to start planning and writing.

I dusted off my wonderful binder filled with character sketches and pics and bios. I located all of my files under the drab that is my scary documents folder on my computer...and I'm sitting butt to chair and I'm going to figure it out.

Yes, I still need to clean my house which is falling down around me since I finished my last semester and went traipsing around Europe, and I still have bills to pay so I'm working 90 hrs a week, and I still need to get my butt into shape and start working out more and eating healthier as I cannot afford to eat out every day anymore.

But despite all of these needs, which are probably not going to change - any time soon - I need to live a creative life. I figure if I can work on my art pieces during my lunch hour each day at work, then I can be free to write and exercise, if I can walk after that shift of work, at night.

Totally doable and I cannot figure out why I was so dense I didn't see it before.

So thank you, Cherry, for lighting an orange energy bubble under my ass and inspiring me to sit butt to chair and get it done. 365 days. That's all I get. Starting NOW!

Pray for me (and that Wolf Moon makes it out of this goal alive!)

***For some reason, I've pondered this the whole day and the thought of continuing with this story gives me the hives...but starting from scratch, I don't know if I can do that...what to do what to do...I guess my first decision will have to be whether to give this story a chance or put it away to let something new come out! I just don't know what to do with myself.

A Constant Pondering:

2010-01-10T13:43:00.003-06:00

What the heck am I supposed to do with the rest of my life?!?

I just returned from a 2 week trip to Europe - my first. It was wonderful. Paris was cold and dreary but beautiful and inspiring. The food - not so great. The start of the trip was filled with jet lag and sleep/body changes associated with waking up in one time zone and flying around the world to another.

We finally got everything in sync...and it was time to travel to Spain. The train ride - long train ride - from Paris, France to Barcelona, Spain was interesting. The countryside took my breath away, inspiration flying out of my pores. I couldn't seem to absorb it fast enough. We rode first class all the way to the border - quite an experience. Then the second part of the trip, we rode in, what must have been, the first train ever made. It was long and slow and bumpy. I watched a couple next to me make a love connection. People-watching at its best!

We flew from Barcelona to Malaga, Spain, to what will be one of my new favorite cities to visit. I climbed a freakin' mountain, thought I would die from doing it, but hey, I made it - however slowly! We walked all around the beautiful city from beach to border. Enjoyed every minute of it. I loved the cafes, wines, pastries, tapas, shopping, sites.

And still it's so good to be back home...in this freakin' cold weather! It was wonderful weather in Spain and freezing temps back home...so weird. I have so much hope for 2010. But I'm right back to the question that has been on my mind constantly for the past few days, weeks, months, years...what the heck am I going to do with my life???

I'm 30, single, nothing to hold me back..so what is?!

I have no idea...but I do have a new "5 year plan"! So exciting and the details are all my own - a secret! I'm looking forward to normal temps in my old house so that I can start cleaning and reorganizing my life. Once my studio is back on track (I was so productive the last few months of 2009 - my studio is a nightmare!!!), I'm planning on taking an online art class.

I've never taken an online art workshop. I did purchase the DVDs from two workshops of a favorite artist of mine, Tamara Laporte. She taught me so much in her dvds, but I want to branch out, learn from others. I fought with my decision, who to go with: Tam, Julie Pritchard, SuziBlu, etc...nothing quite matching what I envisioned.

So I struggled with determining which online art class / workshop I would join. After 2 days of research I was right where I started...dreading the "only other option." But I refused to give up and dug deeper. And sure enough...I found a winner: Monica Zuniga from www.handsandheart.ning.com . Her work is fantastic and makes me want to fight the freezing temps in my old, uninsulated house to get that studio in order...stat!! I look forward to the learning ahead of me.

Now that I am not formally going to university, I can get back to other things...writing, exercise, cooking, art...okay okay so I never really "got" into cooking in the first place...or exercise for that matter...but there is no time like now to start. I'm searching for better job offers and hoping for the best to come in 2010. I look forward to the changes that this year will bring, especially since I'll be stuck at home since I spent so much money on my vacation!

I can't wait to get back to my writing. As far as I can see, I'm thinking the beginning of the year will be for taxes, writing and art classes...and the second half - who knows. None of my plans ever happen so I won't bother past these hopes and dreams.

What are you waiting for? What do you plan for 2010?

Looking Back and Looking Forward

2009-12-19T20:21:00.005-06:00

I received another rejection email, which is amusing only because I haven't sent anything out in a while, so how about that long reply time. I finished French this semester with a B. I'm usually an overachiever when it comes to my classes so normally anything less than an A would be heartbreaking, but I'm not feeling French and school much lately so I deserved the B and will be glad it isn't worse.

I am planning on taking a bit of time off from school. I'm hoping it will only be one semester and that I will be back to the grind come the Fall, but at this point I will just see how it goes. It's not in my nature to stop learning, so I'll take online art classes with some of my favorite artists for the next couple months. I'm looking forward to classes that are available when you have time rather than during specified times, and I really want to take some real art lessons.

I'm trying to get my house in order. It is a mess after this rough semester I've had. I'm packing and getting things ready for my upcoming trip - my first time to Europe. I will be spending 10 days with my friends in Paris and parts of Spain. I'm looking forward to getting away and seeing the sights and being inspired by everything that is waiting for me abroad.

Looking back, I realize that with all the ups and downs of 2009, it was a great great great year for travel. I've been to New Orleans, Shreveport, Pennsylvania, Washington, Virginia, Oklahoma, and now visiting Europe. That's not bad for a year-in-review.

2009 was a blessing. I have so much to be thankful for, yet I tend to dwell on the negatives. I finally made the decision to quit a job that had been holding me back. While I do not regret the decision, I think I could have been smarter, saved more money or changed jobs in 2008! But it is what it is, and I experienced a period of 28 days without employment barely scraping by. Yet the blessing in those days was a clean house, time to exercise, and wonderful time in my art studio.

I completed about 42 pieces of art, sold one, and received requests for two commissions. I started my first online art gallery at http://www.artwriter.artfire.com/ . I completed an artist portfolio, but have yet to show it to the two establishments that I made it for. That's on the list of things to tackle in early January 2010.

I'm working at a job that is more physical, which has its perks, like a killer employee discount on craft and art supplies, that I am using to my advantage, but I'm back in the grind, working a lot so I've stepped back on eating healthy and working out. Two other repeat resolutions for 2010.

A miracle came my way when I was at rock bottom about to make a decision to cash in my pension. This miracle brings with it heartache and pain, but will be what I need to get back on my feet. There is a price for everything it seems. Of all I've learned in my young life it has been that.

Anything I lack in life I make up for in quality of friends and family. I am blessed in so many ways. I get support from those I love, I have a house and studio that I enjoy immensely. I get to create stories and art which heals me bit by bit.

I am not the girl I once was, and I never will be. I am who I am. With the Good and Bad. With the Strong and Weak. The days of me trying to change to please others is so over. I'm stronger than ever and I know that I'm only given the trials that He knows I can overcome. So I will.

This is what I strive for in 2010 and will be my only resolutions. I feel the sentence covers just about everything: I want to be a healthy and happy Me, full of love and creativity, and hopefully finding more success in selling my stories and art!

Looking to the Future with...Hope!

2009-11-29T10:02:00.002-06:00

Looking to the future, I am filled with wonder at all of the possibilities before me. I look forward to the end of my school days for a (brief hopefully) period. I need to step back. I need to break away from the grueling schooling for now. Get back to taking care of myself, my house, my life, creating, and see what happens. I will be back one day...hopefully one day soon.

I constantly feel the need to learn and figure things out, so I know that the scholarly life is probably for me. But my problem is that I want to learn the things I am interested in, so the regimented curriculum of schools goes against me and makes the learning process unbearable.

I have plans for my schooling, but I will put those aside and worry about them at a later date. As soon as I know where I'm going with it...I'll let you know!

I can't wait to get back to my writing. I dreamed about my character last night, Nalia. Weird, I know. But she lives inside of me, sighing and gut punching me ever-so-often to make sure I'm aware of her, to make sure I'm grateful for her patience, and to make sure I know how pissed she is that I've neglected her so this past year. I can't wait to hear her story and see how this chapter ends. I'll get to you soon, Nalia. Just give me more time!!

My art has taken me places that I never dreamed. I don't have any ingrained talent. Rather its pure pigheaded-ness and practice. I love it. It's my therapy and each of my pics teaches me something about myself and my life, that I may not have realized this early had it not been created. My ultimate goal is to be able to bring characters and scenes to life to aide me in the writing process. It will all be worth it once I reach that end result.

Health wise, I am reminded every day that I am not as young as I used to be. My body doesn't bounce back well. I feel every ache and pain and change in the weather. I'm only 3o for crying out loud! But that too will be where it needs to be.

This was a great Thanksgiving Day. I spent time with my immediate family and my only "true" remaining aunt and uncle on my dad's side. We gathered at moma's for her wonderful gumbo and potato salad and bread. Stacey and the kids brought turtle pie for desert. It was a great day indeed. Then I went home around 4pm for some studio time. Life is oh so good!

I think often of what might have been...but then I live the life I have made for myself and realize that there is no place else I'd rather be then here...for now!

Mood: hopeful
Drink: water from my new stainless steel water bottle (will have to google the difference between a stainless steel and aluminum water bottle - my old ones are siggs.)
Food: wishing I had some
Music: Christmas tunes playing on the Christmas movie playing in the background
Currently: I'm trying to get around to studying for my last (hopefully ever) French test!!

If I could capture these feelings...

2009-11-23T15:36:00.003-06:00

I wish I could describe the feelings inside of me when I finish a piece of artwork or story. Even as a writer the words elude me. Happiness seems like such a dull and insufficient word to use, but maybe it is happiness. If so this is a feeling I'm not used to.

My heart aches in so many ways, but if I can fit a few minutes into my day to create something, a poem, a story, a fix for one of the many holes in my novel, or drawing/painting something, then I'm good.

I stepped away from writing while in school, because its so much easier to finish a piece of artwork then to get into my characters heads, worry about and weave the storyline, etc. I've been spending time in my messy studio since July of this year. The business side of art is very much like the business side of writing. There is so much behind the scenes of writing/creating.

I'm working on my artist portfolio; it just needs a few finishing touches and then I can print up my pictures. I need a professional picture, yet I'm always tired, working, looking sloppy. I will definitely have to get on the ball with this one, since it's such an easy fix.

I started my online art gallery at www.artfire.com/users/artwriter , and I sold my first piece of artwork. (To a close friend who loves me and would put up any crap that I create out of that love alone - I heart you, Nona!) But I'm forever hopeful that others will fall in love with my art pieces the way that I have and hope to have them in their home, daughter's bedroom, nursery, etc.

My style in art, like in writing, falls toward mythology, fairies, princesses, etc. But I'm always learning and trying new things. I have arty parties with my friends, where we hang out for a few hours of good music, painting, and creating. I'm happy that my love for creating has spread, to Oklahoma where Nona has an art journal she keeps, and in my hometown, where my friends have become reacquainted with their love of painting through my obsession with my own creative inklings.

Everything is a circle. Everything is connected. People, places, and things come into our lives for: a reason, a season, and a lifetime. The beauty is in the experiencing and finding out where each experience falls.

Two weeks until finals. I'm so ready for the semester and holidays to be over so that I can get back to living a somewhat normal (for me) life. I am looking into changing my major to general studies. I need to graduate, to complete the goal that I set for myself when I was a kid. I want to be the first in my family to graduate from college and at this rate, my 14 yr old niece may beat me to it. lol. The classes in the English curriculum are not geared toward making me a better writer, which was my purpose all along. So its time to re-evaluate and see what needs to be done. I can always go back to take the few classes that I feel will help my writing. So I'll probably be taking some time off of school, to get back on my feet after leaving AT&T and to really get into my art.

Every day is a blessing, and I'm thankful for all that I have and all that I am. But today...I'm happy beyond measure. They don't call it "paint therapy" for nothing!

Gearing up for what's ahead

2009-10-25T13:57:00.003-05:00

Any desire to be a writer or artist is strife with research, learning, mess. Creating is the easy part. Its what comes after that is stress worthy and headache worthy.

This year I have transitioned drastically from the person I started out being as the new year was upon us. I changed jobs. I bought a new car. I had many eye-opening and life-evaluating experiences.

I reorganized my house and my life. I repainted my bedroom. I put paintings up in my house. I stepped back from my art journaling and became a true artist.

Now I'm working on the business of art, which is very similar to the business of writing. My creativity stems from so many areas. I find that this year was the year where I sought instant gratification that only art and short stories can give me. My novel has shifted to the wayside, but I remain working on the small stuff and cultivating the stories in my head.

In the art aspect, I currently have 12 pieces that I have finished so far this year. I have acquired postcards, business cards, plastic sleeves, envelops, mailing labels, rubber stamps with mailing address, etc.

I have created both an etsy and artfire account to eventually put the artwork and prints up for sale. I have found that with my recent change in jobs, I don't have to "give up" anything like I did for 2008 and the beginning of 2009. I'm following in school, though slightly behind. I'm taking care of the house and regular "chores" like I never did before. I'm becoming more well-rounded as a domestic-inclined person, student, writer, artist, person, etc.

I'm currently working on my artist portfolio and hoping to get a few of my paintings on display at a local venue. There are resumes, bios, statements, etc to be completed. I have tackled the listing of paintings, determined pricing, setup spreadsheets for accounting purposes, etc. I'm working on certificates of authenticity right now.

I joined 3 art groups online who have been my constant supporters, fountains of knowledge, and helpers throughout this process and ordeal. I have learned so much and am ever so grateful for these changes in my life which have lead me to here.

I feel inspired so easily these days and I now have the means to take that inspiration and make something, rather than putting it aside for another time.

I have always had the tendency to focus on the bad. I am working on self esteem and forgiveness and I'm learning to think positive and focus on all of the good that surrounds me. While I do not have the family that I always dreamed of, I have a great group of family and friends that love and support me and enable me to be and do all that I dream of. The rest will come or won't. We all have a purpose in life, whether we know it or not and that too will be shown in time.

I hope to get back into the swing of things, attending writers group and critique group meetings, attending to my writerly duties and returning emails and doing all of the things I previously loved doing. But time will tell when that will be possible. My new work situation has me alternating weekends with both of my jobs, which means I'm working every weekend. I don't have the funds to do all that I previously did, attending conferences and planning vacations. So I'm learning to budget and plan for bigger things rather than many smaller venues.

New Years Eve will bring me to my first trip to Europe. I will be traveling with friends to Paris and beyond ... to Morocco. A chance of a lifetime. A new understanding of the language to see fruition. Life is just so so good. I had no idea it was possible to be this happy.

Mood: content
Drinking: way too much cola
Eating: 1st ever crab cakes I ever made and moma's gumbo
Wishing for: the strength to get through these hard times with a positive attitude and a happy demeanor....and to get some of my art out there for the world to see and purchase...Finally selling something I had created is definitely on the list of hopes!

what else is there???

Oh How Time Flies

2009-10-11T15:53:00.002-05:00

My weekend trip to the beautiful city of Austin was amazing. I traveled with some great friends, had some laughs and listened to some rockin' music. We remembered the old days and I dreamed about the days to come. I do love the city of Austin, Texas and I'm always saddened to see it growing ever smaller in the rear view mirror.

On the drive back, I spoke to a manager that I had recently interviewed with and found that I had the job and when could I start? Well this girl needed a day to recoup from the wild weekend of mud and muck. So I started this past Wednesday at my new job as a cashier at my favorite store, Hobby Lobby.

Hmm a cashier...hmmm at Hobby Lobby? people ask. Where did you work before? people ask. Don't they pay you much better then this place? people ask.

Yes. I left a job that was no longer working for me, that was causing way too much stress but which paid really well. I chose Mindy and Mind over Money. And I must say that I'm loving this new life. I work a few less hours; I get a whole lot more done at home. My house and car are cleaner. I have time to study. I have time to create art and write. My brain is fresh and ready emotionally and mentally to take on the challenges of writing and art and school.

Now my feet and back are a different story. I went from a job that had me chained to a desk for 7 years where I gained 5 dress sizes, to a job where I'm on my feet all day and lifting heavy boxes and objects, and I'm loving every minute of it. My feet are comfortably sore at the end of the day and still all I can do is smile. I sleep so much better than I had been. The stress of not having a full time job had been getting to me. I've had two or more jobs since I was 19 years old. So it takes some getting used to.

Nanowrimo approaches and I find that I'm ready to get back to Nalia's story and finish her once and for all. Will this be the November that I get to the end of her tale? I sure hope so. Her and I have been inside each others heads for too long now and its time for her story to be told. So I have high hopes for November.

My French class is driving me crazy, but I am happy to report that I will be heading to Paris at the end of the year. Yes I will be bringing in the New Year in Paris and then traveling to Spain for a wonderful 10 day trip in all with some good friends. I'm looking forward to that trip, which is the only thing that may help me get through this semester.

I have a story to tell, but I think I'll save that...perhaps for another day.

Reflection and Art Time

2009-09-25T22:38:00.003-05:00

As the weekend of ACL (Austin City Limits) comes ever closer, my excitement and happiness in general rises. I look forward to a weekend in my favorite city of Austin listening to the musical stylings of talented professionals and enjoying time and laughs with my friends. But now I realize I have suitcases and small bags but no "weekender" bags big enough to carry enough stuff for a mini-weekend trip. There is always something...

I'm planning on hosting a bit of a wine and art party at my house this weekend, minus the wine for me. We will put on some music perhaps and see where the mood takes us as we stare at our separate canvases. Two of my good friends are coming over and I hope they are as excited as I am. I've already prepped 3 canvases and have another idea brewing. A good creative day to be had I'm sure!

I've been doing a lot of self reflection. There are areas of improvements needed in self esteem, word choice, and interruptions during conversations. I did very well today catching myself during these moments of lapse, and I really hope that I am finally on a road to better choices.

Today feels like a mystical time where anything is possible. I remembered my old stories and was saddened by the fact that they are still endless. Perhaps one day...perhaps one day they will be told. And I remembered my critique group and the writers group that I've been unable to attend lately. I hope that I will find my way back to my stories and my writing life, someday soon.

Reawakening

2009-09-23T08:39:00.003-05:00

Bonjour, mon amis! J' etudie la francais et travaille un peu.

I have not been feeling myself for a while now. The funk was a period I needed to experience I guess but I'm glad to report that it is definitely coming to an end.

The universe works in mysterious ways. Something stares you in the face and even though you choose not to acknowledge it, eventually you will have to.

Recently, I made a decision that was somewhat impulsive, somewhat thought out: I quit my job at AT&T where I had worked for the past 7 years. A decision had to be made. It was affecting my life, my health, my mentality, and I could no longer ignore the ill effects of this chosen profession. Some jobs are like a drug addiction. You know it's not good for you; you know there are ill effects, but you get something out of it (good pay and benefits) which keeps you going back for more of the abuse.

I simply could not take it anymore and put in my notice. I realize that with the recession this was the worst time to do it, but I had to choose me over money, mind over money. I will not lie, there are some days I regret the decision, only to the point that I should have saved a little more money and realized how much the insurance would have cost me.

But do I regret the decision...Never. I have had time to take care of me, my house. I did some major overhauling in my house, purging of a lot of things I never did or no longer used. I painted a room in the house that had definitely been needing it. I work every day at getting my studio closer and closer to where I want it to be.

The end result: I now have less money to play with but I am far from destitute. I've always had two jobs at least, so now I am fully supporting myself with my second job, which allows me to work more hours and take care of some of my business. I've been writing again. I've been creating art. I've been getting an etsy shop up and running and working on supplies so that I will be able to sell some of my artwork. I already have a place of business in town that is willing to put up some of my artwork on display. I'm hoping to one day be able to make some money off of my love of creating inspirational pieces of artwork.

Every aspect of my life has improved drastically, yet I still do not have a 40/hr week job that I am used to. But I realize that no matter what words are coming out of your mouth, it may be the wish of your heart that is answered. So I am not working full time, but I now have time to do all of the things I love that I never had time to do when I was working so much: write, create, learn to cook, keep my house clean, etc.

So I'm not going to let it worry me. What is meant to be will be. And deciding to quit a job that was causing negative affects on my life and well being was the right decision. So it is one that I will not regret.

Now, the possibilities are endless, and I awake each morning renewed and looking forward to what the day will bring - which is what I needed for a long time now. I've been missing writing in my blog but everything has its time and place and I guess I had to work out some things before I could get back to it. I'm hoping that this transition will lead me back to being a regular blogger again. I definitely have the time now.

Here's a copy of my newest pieces of artwork:

12 X 12 Mixed Media on Canvas Titled "Believe in Yourself"

12 X 12 Mixed Media on Canvas Titled "Dream the Impossible"

The Winds of Change is Upon Me

2009-07-22T11:46:00.003-05:00

Here's my newest illustration friday pages - Tango:

I wrote for the first time in what feels like forever. When I stopped dealing with my WIP I was having a problem with plausibility since the age of the character changed after writing over 90K words. Well that shifts everything that came before it and that I imagined would come after. Finally, after all of this time I could see the fix. It was crystal clear and just what I needed. I wrote 700 wds in 10 minutes and it felt sooo good.

I'm working on my art until more words come back to me, counting the days until the new semester starts. I am not looking forward to any more French classes but I don't really have a choice do I.

I'm setting the ball rolling for making positive changes in my life. I have no idea where this will lead but I know that I will be so much happier when I get there.

Hugs!

Illustration Friday - Hollow 7/12/09

2009-07-12T22:55:00.004-05:00

Bonjour, mon amis.

I have been away, mentally, I guess we can say for a while. Problems at work has me digging deeply into my art journals and digging into my feelings...well...kinda scary. So anyways. I've been having fun with my art journals and I'm going to try to get some art done every week. There is something called http://www.illustrationfriday.com/ where they post a challenge word for the week every Friday and it gives us a chance to interpret it however we wish using art.

That seems pretty easy and I should be able to handle that even when the semester starts. So I'm going to take the challenge and it will also get me blogging again. This is my second week, but I'll post only this weeks for the challenge.

Journeys and Life

2009-06-01T10:00:00.002-05:00

Bonjour, mon amis.

I was recently reprimanded for my lack of blogs. I don't know what the deal is. Since February I've been a bit disconnected from my own life. Learning French took up a lot of my time. I stopped writing for a bit to fully immerse myself in the language. The car accident, well what is there to say about that. Nothing has been the same since. I guess I jangled a couple of things in my brain or something.

Well here's a recap of the missing months. I enjoyed my French class immensely and cannot wait to learn more of the beautiful if not aggrevating language. I made friends with my classmates; a first for me. I have been in school for a very long time but I never mingle with my classmates. I hope these friendships stick.

I went on Spring Break to Philly, DC, and Arlington. We saw some things me and my traveling companions:

Aren't my girls just beauties??? We laughed, we wanted to cry (lol), and we walked for dayssss. It's a miracle we made it but we did make it. So I brought back some great memories of times and travels with my sister, Stacey, and my niece, Lauren. (I realize now that the comedic personality is strong in THIS family of mine!!)

But what I bring back with me of all the wonderful sights, sounds, etc of the trip is this one perfect moment as I sat quietly among the Japanese magnolias, remembering my childhood and dreaming of the future I so desperately yearn for. I could have spent days on this park bench writing and dreaming:

This picture will always take me back; and I look at it often!

I celebrated my big 30th birthday with family and friends. We ate sushi at my favorite Japanese restaurant, Shangri La with my favorite waitress. Here's my BFF Crissy and my handsome baby brother, Jason :

This is the first bday celebration Jason has joined us on. Us Blanchard women have a long history of Mindy's Bday celebrations: partying for the 21st, male strippers for the 24th, etc. And finally Jason joined us on this one!!!. I hope we have many more to share. We celebrated at the club where I spent a lot of crazy nights of my 20s, Graham Central Station, which was a fitting place to spend the LAST night of my 20s. We had fun. The drinks and laughter were flowing. It was a great way to start this new period of my life known as my 30s.

I haven't been writing. Even though the semester ended with my wonderful A- (yes the minus breaks my heart - apparently I am a horrible French speaker - well I can't be awesome at EVERYTHING!! LOL), the jobfront has me in such a state of disgust and disappointment (at myself) that I cannot find the words or inspiration to get back to my writing. My novel and my character sits constantly in the background. Nalia simply looks at me sighs, paints her nails, does a bit of primping and filing and waits patiently for me to get my act together so that I can get on...with her story!

When I can't find my words, I go to my art journals, and usually something comes up! Well I now have 4 journals prepped and ready for my personal decorated covers, 32 pages of scrapbooked and art journaled pages in about 5 art journals, 10 pages of backgrounds waiting to be scrapped and A LOT of personal reflection, inspection, whatever...still no words.

But I refuse to lose hope. If I am anything I am determined. That will usually get me through just about anything in my life. And I have started a new journal: one of reflection and forgiveness. A way for me to pour out my hurts on the page and cover it up with the wonderful memories and characteristics that will hopefully help me get over the wrongs of my life. I'm hopeful that this will help me heal, because I am tired of being bitter and jaded and all of those other negative characters that we all know me by. I'm ready to be free!!

Here's my latest creation. I recently started playing with watercolors and oil pastels. Here's my first whimsy girl in watercolor:

And on the last day of my 20s I did this page for my dad. Completing this piece was a breakthrough in the start of the healing process. It took me 10 years to talk about him after he died. Its taken this long to commit my feelings to paper. But I'm not afraid. I'm dealing. I miss you, Daddy, every day. Til we meet again:

(The treehouse is an original design by Gil Zaunbrecher. He and his beautiful wife, Tanya, are amazingly talented architects and good friends of mine!)

Music: Linger by the Cranberries (I love Pandora.com!!)

Dried paint (and blisters) lingers on the tips of all of my fingers.

I live in hope that today marks the beginning of many great days!!!

Mood: forever hopeful

A Few Words

2009-05-05T11:54:00.000-05:00

Ce semestre est finis! (This semester is finished!!)

The blogs have been seldom but I guess I was too busy living!! Yeah right. I was too busy studying or needing to study. Anyways, I am looking forward to the semester coming to an end and getting my life back in order. A full house and car cleaning is in order (I still haven't recovered from my multiple trips/vacations). It's time to get cracking.

I'll load up some pics from my trips and the goodies from my work in my studio later.

I do have the tendency to overdo things. I have decided that I need a few goals to tide me over for a bit, some long and some short term. I'm committing it to my blogging world so that you can keep me honest. I will be compiling the "to do" list in the next couple days and then I will post it here when its done so that I can start focusing on the goals and markings things off my list.

I don't have much to say right now, but I just wanted to post something so that ya'll don't think I fell off the earth. Til next time!

La Nouvelle Orleans R Bust!!

2009-04-05T20:30:00.006-05:00

After my 3rd French test and my first week working half days back on the phones at work, I needed a break, an escape, a time to laugh and enjoy being alive a bit.

My friend Rhegan and I traveled to Houma, Louisiana for the Jubilee Writer's Conference this weekend. We left a day early to do a bit of sightseeing and relaxing. We shopped and walked until we dropped. It was a beautiful day filled with writing, dreaming, inspiration, and possibilities. Two wayward travelers (how many times did we get lost along the way?):

Happy looks good on us, I think:

We found French everywhere. We tried to use French words whenever we could. It was a great opportunity to get some studying done while I was having such fun!!

There is so much world out there. Where will our lives take us? I wonder. As I reflect upon the past 10 years the saying "if I knew then what I know now" runs through my mind. I can only hope that I make better choices and that the future brings so much more. But regardless, for all of the ups and the downs, I'm here and I'm ready. I am open to the possibilities and the opportunities, I will not give up hope.

There were signs everywhere:

Stolen moments. Opportunities to write. Inspiration can be found on every street corner in beautiful la Novelle Orleans:

After such a hard day's work (lol) what could we do but finish the night with some Bourbon Street strolling:

The trip was great. As many know, I am not the best driver and I tend to be a bit directionally challenged. A few wrong and missed turns happened along the way. But we made it to our destination. The conference was fabulous, as always. It was a memorable weekend.

The job and school are driving me crazy. April is a big month for travels for me, with this New Orleans trip and my trip next week to Washington. But what happens in May I wonder? My travel plans end in April and then what will get me through the day?

Well, I won't depress myself about that now. The memories of this month will have to suffice. I look forward to my trip next week. I'm excited but I still haven't packed yet. Yikes. I don't have anything to wear. Hopefully, I don't aggravate my sis or Lauren too much. But whatever happens will happen. These memories I will need to get me through to the next vacation, the next stolen moment, the next great escape. With my so-called life, I'll definitely need it.

Drinking; Pinot Grigio

Watching: Stardust

Eating: Pralines from the Southern Candy Co

Dreaming: of possibilities

Scrap or Bust!

2009-03-28T18:50:00.004-05:00

Bonjour, mon amis.

I should be studying for the next big French test next week; instead I'm winding down from a wonderful day scrapping. I attended my first National Scrapbook Convention at the Cajundome in Lafayette today. It was fabulous. I thought I had packed way too much (oh I had) but there were people with even MORE stuff than me! Amazing.

Here's my friend, Tanya, and I after a day of scrapping til we drop!

I finished about 16 pages total, which is low on the totem pole of most scrappers (Tanya finished about 80+; she's like a machine). But usually I barely finish 2 pages or projects when we get together to scrap. The pre-painted/prepped pages really did the trick. Getting the work done in stages really made the creativity and process so much easier.

Here's a sample (guess who it's for, Lynnie Pooh):

This is my absolute favorite page that I completed today. The inspiration came from Lynn with the black and white picture and wording. The back and white images just pop off of the bright yellow pages. And I bought the flowered ribbon a few days ago with the intention of using it with a red background - fate!! The page is about one of my close friends, Nona, who moved away in February and whom I love and miss dearly!!

A Day of Decadence

2009-03-21T17:48:00.004-05:00

Today I got a glimpse of what my life would be like if I did not have to work a zillion hours a day. I slept late. I turned down every commitment I made and even forgot a few. I lived spontaneously and did only what I felt like doing in the moment.

Life was decadent.

I watched Knocked Up for some serious laughs. I washed clothes and did my French homework while sipping Mojitos and Pinot Grigio (all day long). (I lived like a lush today!)

I'm attending my first National Scrapbook Day at the Cajundome this weekend. It's an expensive all day affair. In order to get some serious scrapping done - I have to have my pages prepped, all of the supplies I will need, and tons to scrap about. Let me tell you, I am just about ready.

I have been taking mini-breaks throughout the day to grab my supplies, prep some pages, get some last minute layout ideas, etc. My current projects include:

Inspiration journal
Lynn's art journal
2007 art journal
2008 art journal
NEW 2009 art journal
travel journal

AND because of my fabulous newly organized studio, which is making all of my inspiration and productivity possible, I am working on some side projects for what I will consider my inspiration section. I have some altered cards prepped and painted and a few extra cards prepped and painted and waiting for my fabulous artist friends to loan me some inspiration. And I am working on a new inspiration project from one of my art journal books that I have been dying to try out. It's coming along nicely, but since I know nothing about shading, I'll have to hold off on the finishing touches for the scrapbook day. Hopefully someone there can help a sister out! Here's a glimpse of my WIP (yes it's blurry - no clear shots until its finished):

Image inspired by the work of Kelly Rae Roberts (Find out more at http://kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com/.); I am still working on how I plan on completing the "face." I tried a new technique today - my first sponging page - coolio - I love it!!!

Today was a day that dreams were made of. All week long I toil at those jobs I dislike to come home and have 2 days to myself, to create and yes drink in celebration of my success. I setup a goal to get my house organized. It's not where it needs to be yet, but the work in my studio has by far surpassed my original idea.

The room provides me with so much opportunity for creativity. I am a lucky girl indeed.

Music: just learned about pandora radio from a workshop at the Nola Stars Conference - omg I'm in love!
Drink: Mojitos mostly
Mood: tranquil and hopeful

A Haven for Creativity

2009-03-16T22:44:00.005-05:00

Bonjour, mon amis! Comment ca va? Ca va tres bien!

I aced my 2nd French test, and I learned how to ask others to go out on outings - so that may increase my date options - since English obviously isn't working out so well for me - lol!!!!!

I worked in my house this past week. I've been talking for months about getting the studio ready and I must say it is almost there. I have to share the pics, but please ignore the big white spots on the wall. Yeah, Mindy may a few boo-boos that I have to touch up.

Here is a pic of my little office nook in my living room:

Oh, I can just imagine the stories that I'll concoct in my own little writing space!!! (My office chair is in my studio for now - so I'll definitely need a new one because I won't be writing much in this thing.) Here's some pics of my art studio:

I can't wait to get my hands dirty in my own special creating space!!! So much junk - so little time. Here is an example of one of my art journals:

It currently belongs to my friend Jess. She won it from a contest I ran on my blog a few months back. I can't believe I haven't given it to her yet. It has been a few months since I've made it to her area so I have an excuse.

A Day of R & R

2009-03-12T23:56:00.003-05:00

Bonjour. Je suis assez bien. Je suis a la maison.

I'm resting, de-stressing, getting a little R & R. Today was a good day. I worked in my studio for a bit. I have a National Scrapbook Day event coming up at the end of the month and I need to have some pages prepped so I can get right to scrapping on the big day.

I started the prep work on my 2009 Journal - its called Battle of Silence. Ha! Seemed fitting as I have had been in constant battle with silencing my outspoken ways. I also started the prep work for the writers' journal Lynn (conned me out of lol) in exchange for an article for the BWG newsletter and another "project" I'm working on.

It feels good to get back to my paint, to review my art journal books and remember what I love about my fav works from other artists. I've also been pulling images to use on a few spreads - it's nice that my mind gets to play with puzzles again, even for a little bit. Putting layouts or spreads together in my journals are like puzzles: a cat, a cloud and an apple - how do I make this work? Yeah don't ask! Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. If you've seen my journals, you know what I mean.

I received two free 5-shelf bookcases in pepto bismol pink for the studio. My mom put 2 layers of kilz yesterday (yes the pink still shows through in spots - horrible), and I painted one beige layer. Couldn't even get through the second coat. But it looks great. I can't wait to get them in the studio and start unpacking the 20 rubbermaid containers that are taking up every square foot in my kitchen.

I did some rearranging in the studio. What a mess! The more I move something, I find that at least 3 things that I need to save. I'm such a packrat or lazy, probably both.

I haven't been writing. I need to be. I have no excuses. Maybe tomorrow. I have only a few more days before I have to get back to schoolwork. The time is flying but I just can't seem to force it. The story is there, but I just can't do it.

I watched two movies last night: Australia (Wow Hugh Jackman is HOTTT! My tv is still smoking!) and The Secret Life of Bees. Both great movies. Both had me laughing and in tears. Good stuff!! Just what the doctor ordered.

Lessons Learned

2009-03-08T21:20:00.013-05:00

Bonjour, mon amis. Je suis fatigue. Je pense que le francais est tres difficile. Je vais le examens lundi.

Basically, I just wanted to check in, say hello, and let you know that I am tired; I think that French is very difficult, and I have an exam Monday.

Procrastinator that I am instead of studying for French I'll write a bit of French in my blog and that counts as studying, right. lol I'm learning a lot. I can introduce myself to others, go through my family tree (okay not that much), explain my oh-so-crazy schedule, tell you all about my university and campus, tell time, and almost make complete sentences. I can conjugate about 3 verbs. I'm really going to take the French world by storm. OK, maybe not. I can write it better than I can speak it. I was always good at remembering odd spellings (that helps) but my prof cringes every time I open my mouth to speak - Men! lol

I'll get back to studying in a bit, but I have to share the happenings of my so-called life. Since the accident in February I was forced to miss a meeting and due to conferences I'll be missing the next two meetings of my Lake Charles Bayou Writer's Group; I miss my friends so much. I can't wait to hear what's going on in your lives, writing or otherwise. I want hugs from everyone as soon as we meetup in May.

I took off of work Friday and drove to Shreveport, Louisiana with my mom and sister. A little vacay was in order for all of us. We shopped and ate sushi at this wonderful restaurant on the Boardwalk. I only experienced road rage once, so I guess that was good. We made it safe and sound.

Here's my sis, Stacey, and me:

We checked into the hotel and then Stacey and Moma left for some more sightseeing and shopping. I attended 2 fabulous early bird workshops about avoiding plagiarism and creating the page turner. There was a meet and greet with great food, and I drank the best glasses of Pinot Grigio I've had in forever, (oh wait it's been forever since I had a chance to drink).

I met up with a few old friends and met some new ones. I retired early to pound away at the keyboard having found some inspiration and a fix for one of my current probs with my current WIP. Here's me and the Vice President of BWG, Jan Rider Newman:

I met Jamie Colette at the 2008 Conference. It's great to meet up with an old friend:

Conferences are a great way to meet other writers. Here's a new friend, Betsy St. Amant:

The next day the workshops were fantastic; I learned so much and hardly know where to start. If I start naming names, I know I'll miss out on some of the major influences of the weekend and I should apologize for that up front. But thanks to the wonderful workshops of: Jennifer Blake, Karen King, Elle James, Delilah Devlin, Ramona Richards, Terry Spear, and Jade Lee I am so much smarter than I was 72 hours ago, and I am ready to tackle the rest of my current WIP.

I'm ready to take the rest of the journey with Nalia and her Merry Men to find the end of this book. The initial idea came to me exactly a year ago. In March of 2008 Nalia first stepped out of my mind and into my idea book. I didn't start writing the story itself until June of 2008. And while I have not been writing for all of these months since then, as I do have two jobs and attend night classes at UL, it is time to get to the bottom of the story. I had realized this going into the weekend but some happenings during the conference pissed me off enough to get the ball rolling for sure. I so do love a challenge.

As many of you know, I love everything about the learning process. I'm obsessed with knowledge and learning new things. What can one expect from the girl who taught herself how to read crochet patterns and then made up her own? But I digress.

I attend many conferences whenever I have the time, opportunity, and money even though I'm fully aware that I am losing out on opportunities to speak with editors and agents about my work, since I don't actually have a finished product. And while some feel quite comfortable speaking out when they don't have a finished product, my situation leaves me in a corner where I don't feel comfortable trying to sell something that I do not have and which I cannot guarantee would be reader-ready within a few months time.

But do I let this stop me? Heck no, I go to conferences and I learn and I get better and I network. Guess what? I'm okay with that. It works for me, and I'm fully aware that what works for one does not work for everyone.

During the course of the conference, I was asked numerous times whether I pitched to anyone. The answer was of course, "no." Most people just looked at me with pity in their eyes and nodded their head in encouragement as I spilled all the "excuses" why I don't have a finished product. Yeah, yeah so we all have excuses.

One remarkable woman actually compared going to conferences without a finished product to something like, saying I can be a race car driver just because I like watching Nascar. There are moments when I have no class. I curse like a sailor at the most inopportune times, and I tend to have a short fuse, but I have my moments. In the face of this criticism, all I did was smile and nod. I'm proud of myself for having class in that moment because the scenarios running through my head at the time were bad. In all walks of life there are those that can only feel better about themselves by putting others down. They just can't seem to help themselves.

While we all know that: Everyone has ideas. Everyone has the ability to write. Everyone usually thinks they have at least 1 good book in them. In this business, not everyone who aspires to write a book actually sees that goal come to fruition. We hear it a thousand times during our lives. But what I wonder is this, have you ever heard of tact? Find a better way of talking to other people.

I may not have finished a book yet. I may have had many ideas and actually gotten bored with some before completing them. I may have used all of the excuses in the book for my inability to finish a story. But newsflash: that doesn't make me any less of a writer.

Yes I attend workshops, lectures, conferences and I learn. I'm in college pursing a degree in English because I want to learn. I plan on going to grad school because I want to learn. These things do not debilitate me. Sometimes its daunting because there is so much work involved in the writing process when you worry about pace, hooks, characterization, etc., early on when maybe you should just worry about getting the story out.

Yes, it could be paralyzing for others, but it's not for me. My writing is stronger today than it was a year ago because I'm always learning how to become a better storyteller. My first drafts are still crap, just like everyone else's. Yet I've learned what to look out for, what my weaknesses and my strengths are, and how to fix them. So I'm more than a race car driver wanna be. I'm a writer, albeit a slower one than some perhaps. As much as it pissed me off to experience this, I didn't let it ruin my mood or my weekend.

Since I was a child, I have escaped to books, stories, anything I could get my hands on. I was Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. I read all of the Stephen King books available by the time I was in 6th grade. I stumbled upon romance novels when I was 14. I've seen worlds that didn't even exist. I've been transported from the everyday toil and drudgery of life into the exciting pages of stories by the most fascinating of storytellers.

I immersed myself in stories of cowboys and Native Americans. I looked at each beloved line used in Cassie Edwards' books, and I knew that I wanted to one day write a story so beautiful. A few years ago I became bored with reading: cowboys, Native Americans, Englishmen, Scottish warriors, nothing helped me escape.

Lucky for me there is a Bookrack located 3 minutes from my job. I'd often spend my lunch hour perusing the shelves. The worker knew my tastes and took a chance on me, referring me a paranormal romance after I hit my reading rut.

I was skeptic at first, but Janet knew what she was talking about. It was love at first bite (lol). I've been hooked ever since. I don't know what the first book was, but I think it was a Christine Feehan (one of the Dark series).

A voracious reader, I tore through the shelves grabbing whatever I could hold. I eventually found the Crimson City series. I fell in love with the stories, the world, and the characters. I quickly grabbed onto any books the writers of the series had on their backlist and found the Tigress series of Jade Lee; a wonderful writer of Paranormal Romance, she helped me escape into the beautiful setting of Shanghai, time and time again.

Over the years I have found many favorite authors. These are my classics. These are my teachers. I learn from them. I read their stories to escape, and I work every day at my own writing in hopes that I will one day be able to write as well as they do.

Everyone knows how excited I was to attend the conference because one of my favorite authors would be attending and speaking. Of all the empty chairs in the joint, she chose the one next to me for lunch! I would like to think that I am now a woman of class and can handle anything, right?

Not so much. I couldn't even speak. I had to work to chew, and we all know I have no problems with chewing. I couldn't even answer her when she asked me a direct question. (What's the name of my blog - heck I don't know!! Thank goodness I had a name tag I'd probably have forgotten that, too.). Here's Jade Lee, trying hard not to run away from the crazed fan - being a famous writer is so tough!!:

She was wonderful and handled my dorkiness with grace. She even told a story to make me feel at ease with being starstruck. What can I say, I may be a writer but I was a reader first (and the dorkiness will probably never go away. lol)

I learned so much this weekend. I found so many ways to improve my writing, and I met so many wonderful people. I can't wait to get back to Nalia and her tale to see what happens before her first full moon as a shapeshifter.

For anyone who did not attend the NOLA Stars workshop and wanted to, get ready for next year. This is a yearly conference you can't afford to miss.

(It's wonderful to point out that I'm the only one in all of these pics that isn't published! Yep I like to surround myself with greatness!!)

Drinking: Mr. Pibb (need to get back to studying - caffeine is good!)

Music: Best of Baroque album (gets the learning juices flowing)

Mood: Relaxed

Currently: Doing anything but studying; who knew washing clothes was so much fun!

Dreaming of: Life before I had to become immersed in French

Realization: I'm so grateful that is so-called crazy life I have offers me the opportunity and ability to attend such fantastic conferences. Thank you writers for teaching me so much.

**Sorry - I seem to be having post issues. Sorry if there is a lot of space or not enough - I should be studying. Opps! lol. Until next time,

Mindy

Looking Forward to New Days

2009-02-28T21:43:00.004-06:00

Bonjour, mon amis!

Je suis assez bien. Je parle un peu francais. Je pense que le francais est difficile. (I'm fairly well. I speak a little French. I think that French is difficult.)

Due to the Mardi Gras festivities, I had a week off of school. That means at 5pm, I headed home or wherever I wanted to go, whatever I wanted to do, for 5 whole days. It was lovely and made me regret my decision not to stay out of school for one semester. But I made my decision and paid the big bucks, so school is where I am.

I did spend some time writing and that has improved my spirits tremendously. I figure if I can write just 15 minutes a day, then I can do this without feeling like I'm cutting off half of my heart to chase another part of my dream. But I know myself and my wicked ways, and I know that I'll find that 15 minutes aren't enough. Sometimes I'm stubborn and it's all or nothing. Hopefully, it is enough for now.

The great news is that I'm looking forward to the NOLA Stars Conference next weekend in Shreveport. One of my fav authors Jade Lee will be there. I cannot wait to meet her and learn about world-building!! My sister Stacey and I are heading out for a mini vacay away from home! It should be fun and I'm really looking forward to it. (Maybe I should have made some business cards - another thing on the to do list I totally forgot about. Jeez!!)

The massive pain in the back of my thigh has dimmed a bit. So I should be able to start exercising again. 30 minutes a day, doctor's orders. Ugh, the one good thing to come of this mess was that it was okay to be lazy. *Sigh*

Guess the vacation is over (until Friday).

So I'm getting on track right now. No one knows what lies ahead. A wise friend told me this week (or maybe last week) that we have to focus on today. And that's what I'll try to do. Mostly because I don't know if I'm strong enough to deal with what lies ahead....Maybe I won't be as great a writer as I think I am. Maybe my family will be shattered by the verdict. Maybe my GPA will plummet and I'll fail my first class (ever). Maybe I won't be able to become frugal enough to survive the recession and state of the economy. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. The list is never ending.

So I'm studying my French and getting back to trying to be healthy. Tomorrow is March 1st and (as they say,) Tomorrow is a New Day!

Mindy

The Calming Focus

2009-02-17T23:55:00.006-06:00

Bonjour, mon amies. (Hello, my friends.) Je suis assez bien. (I am fairly well.) Mon cours tue moi. (My class kills me).

I'm wondering where I have been for the past XX years. I've lived here all of my life, yet today I learned about Mardi Gras. Who knew that there was more to this "holiday" than beads and alcohol. Interessant! My next assignment is to interview someone who was punished for speaking French in school, in the old days. There are like 6 pages of requirements/specifics for the whole project. Then I have to ask for definitions to specific words and be able to explain the answer in complete and clear sentences. Then I have to write a 3 page formal paper on "what I have learned." Jeez, Louise! I want a vacay! Due date March 25!! TICK-TOCK.

I'm currently experiencing that period known as the "calm after the storm." I have a new car and a new attitude. Not that it's a good attitude or bad, but it's definitely different from the Mindy that most of us are used to.

I'm feeling okay financially, a little less so emotionally, and a bit less so physically, as there are kinks (I can't sit or stand in the same position for more than 12 minutes but its much better than it was). I almost asked someone out on a date - yeah you read that right, but while I'm not that brave yet, there is an almost, and that is a lot further than normal.

Yesterday I wrote a post that I felt was too personal to actually send out there for all the world (yeah okay so perhaps no one will ever read it) to see. I wonder how horrible it will be (when??!?!?) I have a readership and they stumble upon this mess that is my musings and figure I'm nuts and never buy another book (how's that for big dreams, huh?) But being me I figure what the heck. Since when do I hold back on the gooey parts. So here's the post that I failed to post yesterday, with a few edits and additions:

I realized today that I am bemoaning my current situation, having forgotten the reason that I am here on this journey.

Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to graduate from high school and go off to some great college. A college so very far away from LA. Arizona, New York, California. Anywhere would have been my choice.

Yet I never made it anywhere. I found nothing but roadblocks along the way. I chose love, which is supposed to be the one thing I always believed would open the world for me, would make anything possible; and all this time I've blamed that on my choices, afraid to admit that I may have the worst taste in everything. (Sometimes I think I need a keeper!)

Yet I realize that it's my own insecurities that always hold me back. I find excuses on the curve of every road to nowhere. My problem may be the obsession I've always had with the four letter word. Since I was 14 years old, I've devoured romance novels. I've imagined it, breathed it, experienced it, wanted it, loved it, hated it. Perhaps I've set myself up for the train wreck (ha) that is that aspect of my life. Or maybe it's because I need to be the victim in this story, not satisfied, always left wanting/searching. Or maybe I should just be calling some hotties, in the white jackets. Regardless of the gazillion excuses and reasons my imaginative mind can come up with, the true question is: WHAT I wonder am I really afraid of? hmmm.

I’m stuck in a job I hate. Hours are taken from me as I toil at a job for a company that doesn’t deserve me. How many years wasted? Too many. More years than I’ve been an "adult" perhaps. But what jobs have I ever liked? I wonder. Are there people out there that truly love their jobs. That wake up refreshed and raring to go, as opposed to stomach cramps and cold sweats at 9pm which escalates until 7am when the only fix is a fetal position and a dark cramped place. What job could I possibly have that I would love? I know the answer and the dream but my mind screams failure as I think it. Things to worry about when I "grow older" I guess.

So what is the purpose? Why work at jobs that are beneath you? Why take classes that you don't want. Why work toward a degree you don’t know if you even need? Why you ask?

Because I made a promise to myself a long time ago, way before love found me, way before the troubles and responsibilities of life found me, way before I figured out I have the tendency to trip and fall all over the place. I made a promise to be the first in my family to graduate from college. I’m almost 30 years old, and I haven’t accomplished the goal and dream I set out to.

But I’m getting there. Slowly, very slowly, but sure. Gotta work, gotta survive, gotta learn, gotta write. Those are the days of my life.

I enjoyed a meal and conversation with one of my fav gals today. She helped me see that I am on the road to where I want to be. That first goal is accomplishable and within my reach. Every day, even if I’m not writing, I gain something, a thought, an opinion, a contradiction, which helps my writing skills grow - which helps me grow as a person. We worked on some kinks in my story and got me some ideas for a fix. Maybe the problem is that I'm forcing my character to be a 2x-something character, when in actuality she is younger. Maybe Nalia's story is centered more toward Young Adult than my norm. We shall see I guess.

My fav gal, helped me realize that had I not gone back to college, I wouldn’t have Marilyn, Mnemosyne, Fin, Sugarcane, etc, and that is a tragedy. None of these stories would have found me had I not been pushed and had I not been pushing myself in class at those times. I’m on this journey for a reason, even if it's not the journey I imagine I want, need, etc.

....The point is that I see you, fair child with the large green eyes. I see you blink those beautiful eyes behind plastic frames. I see you nervously smooth your unruly hair behind cute ears. You pout and wrinkle your nose when you think really hard. You wiggle in your seat when the words are flowing inside of your brain and your nimble fingers just aren't fast enough to keep up. You gaze intently at those you notice around you, when you bother to look up from your imaginings, and you wonder - who are they? what are their stories? what can they teach me? how will they change me? And you are not afraid. You smile shyly and you head off, to explore and tell the stories that only you can tell.

I see you inside of me, and I will find a way back. I may have finally found my focus.

So reader of my oh so crazy life, have you found yours? Think back and reflect! It's good for the soul!

A New View

2009-02-08T22:02:00.005-06:00

Bonjour! Je suis pas tres bien.

It's been a while since my last post. A lot has happened, and I've been a bit under the weather. It seems I drove my car into a post, not intentionally but I should have avoided it easily yet I seemed to fail to see it entirely. Too busy and not too observant. I guess I needed to slow down a bit, and I was avoiding all of the other "signs"; so it seemed an actual sign had to come into my path.

Well, I thought my car was fine but it has been totalled. So I'm car shopping, which is the last thing I wanted, needed, or expected to do. There are currently 3 vehicles in the running but I'm not sure what I am going with. I spent all day Saturday car shopping with my wonderful sis, and all I got was heat stroke - fun times. lol

I go back to work tomorrow, and my soul is crying out in agony. The things we do for money. I have to be able to afford that new car note. I have to "work to live" rather than "live to work."

I watched "He's Just Not That Into You" tonight and it was fantastic. I love good movies that make you feel good no matter what your situation is! It's funny how the movie makes you want to analyze all of your past relationships to pinpoint the signs that you should have noticed way back when that would have clued you in that the "relationship" was headed nowhere fast. lol. but that's for another novel.

I haven't been writing or thinking about writing or anything of that nature. I did manage to read 4 books this week - I guess that makes up for the reading that I had planned during the break but never got around to. I love words. I see them on page as written by my favorite paranormal romance authors and I wonder if I will ever be that good. I hope so. I hope that one day the greats get excited when they see a book with my name printed on the cover and can't wait to get home and read it front to back. Big dreams there! But some days what else do we have to hold onto?

A wise friend told me this week that it's about the journey rather than the destination. I keep trucking and pushing everything aside while I focus on the end goal. I realize now that I'm missing everything along the way. I'm missing the journey and running through life. Having landed face first into a kryptonite post, I definitely don't want this to be the middle of my story - because I wouldn't read it. So point taken; I see the error of my ways and will work on improving them.

I realize how lucky I am. I have the best friends and family that a girl could ask for. I only hope ya'll know how much I love and appreciate you, even when I probably don't say it enough. It's in print now for all the times I'll probably forget to say it - Love You!

*Thinking of You: Driving in the car, I hear the lyrics to a song you shared so long ago. I watch a movie, bringing memories of your home state, and I think of you as a child and what that must have been like, growing up so different from myself. Yet I'll never be able to ask now. Every license plate I pass, shows your last state. Every third word spoken reminds me of our unfinished story. You're like a distant memory hidden in one corner of my mind and life. I regret that I didn't speak up - clearer and sooner than you did. I wish things could have been different, and I wish you luck in your life, miles away from my so-called life.

So here's to every possibility I didn't reach out to and all the new ones that I will reach out to. No more focusing on the destination. A clear view lies on the here and the now.

Current Addictions: Supernatural and sweets

Pam's Valentine's Day Contest

2009-01-31T07:00:00.000-06:00

A Sweetheart of a Contest

As we all know, the flagging economy is forcing businesses to make tough decisions and the book industry is no exception. Book stores are closing. Publishers are laying off people, cutting back on production, and pulling titles from distribution.

What’s an author to do?

Get those sales up.

So, Fellow author and Friend, Pamela S Thibodeaux, is having a Valentine’s Day contest Where Everyone Gets a Gift!

Between Jan. 31st & Feb. 13th

Everyone who enters will receive Thib’s Teaser (a pdf with blurbs/excerpts/discount coupons/short story) AND their name will be entered into a drawing for the GRAND PRIZE – simply email Pertinent Promotions at ppromocntst@aol.com with Sweetheart Contest in the subject line.

No Purchase Necessary to Participate

~HOWEVER ~

Purchase any (1) Tempered novel and, along with Thib’s Teaser you will receive a Special Surprise Gift and your name will go into the drawing twice for the Grand Prize! Simply forward a copy of your receipt or proof of purchase to ppromocntst@aol.com (include your mailing address for the surprise gift).

Purchase 2 Tempered novels and in addition to Thib’sTeaser you will Receive a Special Surprise Gift, Your pick of a FREE download of either Choices or Cathy’s Angel and three chances to win the Grand Prize! Simply forward a copy of your receipt or proof of purchase to ppromocntst@aol.com (pick your short story and include your mailing address for your surprise gift)

Purchase the first 3 Tempered novels (Tempered Hearts, Tempered Dreams & Tempered Fire) and in addition to Thib’s Teaser you will Receive: A Special Surprise Gift, Your pick of a FREE download of either Cathy’s Angel or Choices a FREE autographed copy of Tempered Joy and 4 chances to win the Grand Prize! Simply forward a copy of your receipt or proof of purchase to ppromocntst@aol.com (pick your short story and include your mailing address for your autographed copy of Tempered Joy & your surprise gift)

Together we can take the Tempered Series to Amazon’s Best Seller List!

**Amazon Purchase NOT Your ONLY Option**

If you purchase Any of the Tempered Series according to the rules above from your local book store, MAIL a copy of your receipt to Pertinent Promotions c/o Pamela S Thibodeaux, PO Box 324, Iowa, LA 70647 and your prizes will be the same as those listed.

Same rules apply if you purchase DIGITAL copies of The Tempered Books *Note* If you purchase digital copies of Tempered Hearts, Tempered Dreams, and Tempered Fire according to the rules above, you will receive a digital copy of Tempered Joy. *Digital copies also available @ All Romance Ebooks!

Winner will be announced on Feb 14th

*All entrants will be added to Pertinent Promotions and the Author’s personal mailing lists.*

Grand Prize: CD of my TWRP titles which includes 3 short stores (Cathy’s Angel, Choices, & A Hero for Jessica), 1 full-length novel The Inheritance and an advanced copy of my Upcoming Release Winter Madness (short story) and a Valentine Gift Basket!

Looking Forward to What Lies Ahead

2009-01-30T21:39:00.004-06:00

Salut! Mon amies.

Comment ça va? Je suis très bien. Aujourd’hui c’est vendredi! C’est super vendredi! Je suis travaillez le week-end. (How’s it going? I am very well. Today is Friday! Its cool Friday! I am working on the weekend.)

Je pense que le français est un peu facile tous les jours. Je suis préparez l’examen pour le prochain cours. J’ écoutez le CD en français. (I think that French is a little eas(ier) every day. I prepare for the exam for the next class. I listen the CD in French.)

J’ apprenez culturelle, conversation, les jours de la semaine, comptez de zéro à trente, un autoportrait, heure, accent, l’alphabet, et expressions. J’écrivez facile mais je parle difficile. (I learn culture, conversations, the days of the week, count from 0 to 30, self portrait, time, accent, the alphabet, and expressions. I write easy but I speak difficult.)

*Sigh* Believe me when I tell you that this is more difficult to write than it is for you to read the madness. And I'm sure it's pretty horrible having to read this. Thanks for sticking it out for me; I appreciate it.

I've had a tough week with things. After some serious soul-searching, I realized that something had to give. Well, I sent out my last finished short story last night. Luckily I sent out three finished pieces this month. It really was a great month. I also sent out a submission the last week in December. So I started out 2009 with a bang. But it seems that this may be the last submission I have ready for a while.

Those who know and love me know that I continuously add more and more to my plate, figuring I'll either sink or swim and usually I manage to swim. But things are different this semester. I'm actually studying as students really should for the first time in my life, and I just can't swim anymore. I find myself in a position where there are few things that I can let go of. The only thing I was able to find to ease the pressure was to limit the amount of time I spend reading and answering emails (I must spend 2 or more hours a day answering emails) and writing.

Writing is in my soul. I don't know if I could stop if I wanted to. But I am able to slow down on the deadlines that I setup for myself and lower my own standards. I mean, who am I going to disappoint anyway. I will still write down my ideas and musings when time permits and the feeling moves me. But I won't be rewriting, revising, critiquing, submitting, etc. So free writing is okay but writing for others' enjoyment (Ha!) will just have to wait until this summer.

I'm really enjoying my French class, which may not be obvious since I'm complaining all of the time. It's exciting learning something new. I thrive on things that are difficult for me. I don't know if I like setting myself up for disappointment or if I just like surpassing my own expectations. My friends and family are so supportive. Encouragement, help, assistance is always flowing my way. I don't know what I did to be so lucky, but I'm grateful for you guys everyday.

In 2008 I took a chance in a part of my life that I gave up on a long time ago. And though it did not work out, in any sense of the word, the point is that I took a chance. After all of these years (yeah who's counting), I finally felt strong enough to put myself out there. As much as there was pain, it felt so good to feel again.

So I made a decision at the beginning of this month, to continue taking chances, to ignore the fear and focus on the possibilities. For once, I feel strong and capable and worthy of being the person that I know I can be. I'm looking forward to this journey and to what the new year will bring. I am secure and okay with the decisions that I have made. I chose this life, and I continue to choose it, each and every day.

Drink: Coke Zero
Quotes: "If at first you don't succeed try harder" and "If you do succeed, try something harder"
Music: Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You
Dreaming of: Triple Choco Chip Cookie from Starbucks and Hot chocolate.

Question of the Day: If you could accomplish anything in 2009, whether it seems possible or impossible, what would it be?

Time Marches On

2009-01-27T23:48:00.004-06:00

Bonjour!

Je m'appelle Mindy Blanchard. Je suis de Pont Breaux, Louisiane. J'habite à Louisiane maintenant. (My name is Mindy Blanchard. I am from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. I live in Louisiana.)

Je suis amèricaine. Je parle anglais et un peu français. Je ne suis pas parle espagnol. Je pense que le français est difficile et intèressant. (I am American. I speak English and a little French. I do not speak Spanish. I think that French is difficult and interesting.)

Je suis ètudiante a l’universitè. Je suis dans le cours de français le semester. Je ne suis pas dans un autre cours. Je travaille aussi. Je travaille tous le jours souvent le matin, l’après-midi, et le soir. (I am a student at the university. I am in French class this semester. I am not taking any other class. I work, also. I work every day often in the morning, in the afternoon, and at night.)

Aujourd’hui, c’est mardi. Il est minuit et demi. Je suis fatigue. (Today is Tuesday. It is 12:30 AM. I am tired.)

It has been a very long week. Yes I know, its only Tuesday. I was playing around on my computer yesterday (those that know and love me know that I do not get along with electronics and technology.) Well I managed to lose just about all of the extras on this darn blog. I had to try to recreate what I had lost, but I know I lost a bunch of great blogs that I had found along the way. Hopefully, I find time and a way to locate those once more. It took hours to set everything up again. So I really hope ya'll like the new layout, cause I'm not ever changing it again! lol

I live for being busy. With too much time on my hands I never know what to do with it. If my schedule is jam-packed with plans, I manage to stay right on track. The pace nearly kills me, though. I made an offer for another project that I really didn't have time for. As luck would have it, I was shot down. So I don't have to feel obligated to make the world a better place. That's for others, I guess.

I find that I am covered in fear of one form or another. Some days I'm afraid I'll wake up and realize that I've spent x amount of years running around in one or more directions but never actually made it anywhere. Some days I think that I have great potential, which I'll never realize because I never had the time to do the one thing I love, writing. I dream big. Sometimes bigger than I believe I can deliver. Other days, I feel like the world is mine for the living. I have a plan and I'm inching my way toward it, gaining ground each and every day.

Basically what I'm saying is that I'm afraid I'm in a constant state of confusion. And if I don't know what's up in my life, then who else will? This is definitely one of my hardest semesters. I have acquired more responsibilities in my writing, my jobs, my school, etc., and for each responsibility I gain, something has to give. It's usually the one thing I'm supposed to be working toward. I guess I struggle with feeling like I'm not a writer if I can't write. It's hard to be a great writer, if you never actually write. It's hard to be a successful writer, if you never actually try. What if I lose it all? What if I find I have time to write yet no stories to tell, no words and characters to speak to me? I shudder to imagine.

I have to find some kind of common ground in this So Called Life. I need balance. Maybe I should take up Yoga. lol

Until next time. Ciao!

Mindy

Finding The Fix For An Old Story

2009-01-25T20:19:00.005-06:00

Bonjour, mon ami(e). (Hello, my friend) Je ne pense que le francais est tres facile. (I do not think French is very easy.) Je pense que le francais est difficile. (I do think French is difficult.) Je parle anglais tres bien. (I speak English very well.) Je parle un peu francais. (I speak a little French).

Mon cours de la francois (My French class) is killing moi (me). I had my first study session with mon amie Crissy, who has an hear and voice for languages. I, unfortunately, do not have either. So while she speaks beautiful French, I sound like an idiot.

My first quiz is tomorrow night. I have not studied as much as I should have. I have done all of the exercises, reviewed all of the informaiton and used French in my everyday life. I did all of the preparation required and then some, but I find that I'm still not prepared. I'm tired of French. I have the cd playing in my car everywhere I go. I have flashcards and the notebook that goes everywhere I go. I have Uno cards that I'm playing my own version of "French solitaire" with, learning my numbers and quizzing myself. I am trying to get immersed. I stop strangers and speak French to them. My friends through out questions to quiz me. I have plans to watch a French film in 2 weeks. I'm reading French websites that I have no chance of understanding. All in all, it's quite funny and embarrassing, but I'm immersed in the darn language. I'm trying, and I guess that's the best I can do.

This weekend was very interessant (interesting). After work on Friday I met up with an old friend at her house. She baked a cake. I watched and looked at old pics of us growing up. We talked and reminisced. It was great. I am very lucky to be as rich in friendships as I am.

Saturday I attended the Writers' Guild of Acadiana Novel Writing Workshop by Romance author Christie Craig. The workshop was FANTASTIC. I was inspired. I realized the problem in two of my current works-in-progress, and I thought up a great new short story idea for my Emotions series.

The novel that I had put aside after NaNoWriMo is now ready to be overhauled. I knew something about my story was off, but I couldn't figure out where it was or how to fix it. The workshop made me realize exactly what the problem was. It seems I was missing a key element; I wrote 1500 extra words toward the story during the workshop and now have an ironclad plot idea (I believe). It will require further review of the story and my idea to fix any other problems that may arise from fixing the plot after 83,000 words but I'll have to save that for another day. For now I am ready to get back into my story. I missed my characters and now that I realize what the fix may be, the story just wants to pour out of me. I only wish I had more time to get it down on paper.

This French class is taking everything out of me. But I refuse to focus on the negative. I will write my words, whatever amount I can, whenever I can, and it will take as long as it takes to get this story finished. Because I normally never finish what I start, or at least that's what I always thought.

But that is not that case anymore. The proof is in: I've submitted 2 finished pieces this week (a memoir and a poem) and I put the finishing touches on my next submission (a short story) which my readers are giving a final run-through and which will be sent out next week. I'm a writer. It's what I do and what I am. I chose my so-called life so I better just deal with the difficulties that being such a busy-body brings and get it all done. Despite how busy I am, I can't not write. It's in my soul, my essence, my heart. And nothing will change that.

Life is great. School is good. Work is ok. Writing is awesome!

I love Kelly Clarkson's new song - I'm looking forward to getting the album!!

Ciao! A bientot! (Bye! See you soon)
Mindy

To Help Raise Money

2009-01-24T23:07:00.000-06:00

My friends are in need of help.

I always believe in supporting a great cause. This is definitely one worth fighting for and contributing to. Let's help them make a difference and save lives. Here's a letter from my friend, Terin:

Dear Friends and Family,

On May 31, 2009, I will be running for a reason much more important than a personal challenge of completing a half marathon.

As a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Societyʼs Team in Training program, I have pledged to train on the behalf of my husband Colby Gary and my grandmother Merlene Bourque to help raise money for leukemia, Hodgkin and non Hodgkin lymphoma, and myeloma research and patient services programs. My husband Colby is a Leukemia survivor. He was diagnosed with (ALL ) when he was only 4 yrs. old. My grandmother didnʼt have Leukemia but another form of cancer claimed her life. I know she would be so proud of me for being involved with this cause.

As you may or may not know, leukemia is the #1 disease killer of children and young adults under the age of twenty. Although the cause of blood cancers remains unknown, recently developed treatments and stead advances bring us closer to a cure every day.

These research advances have been achieved as are result of contributions made by companies, foundations and individuals. The Louisiana Chapter of The leukemia & Lymphoma Society has a goal of raising over $1.5 million this year. As a member of the team, I am helping Team in Training meet this goal and I am writing to ask for your help.

My goal is to raise $3,900 by May 31, 2009. Would you please consider making a 100% tax deductible donation to me to show your support? In doing so, you will be supporting The Leukemia and Lymphoma Societyʼs vital mission. With generosity of people like you, there is every reason to believe that a cure for blood cancers is in sight!

You can make a donation on my website http://pages.teamintraining.org/la/rnr09/tgary .

Every little bit helps no donation is too small. Thanks so much for your consideration!

Terin (Picard) Gary

Savez-vous...? (Do you know...?)

2009-01-19T22:24:00.006-06:00

Salut! (Hi!) Comment ca va? (How are you?)
Je suis tres bien. (I am very well).
C'est quel jour aujourr'hui? (It's what day today?)
C'est lundi. (It's Monday)

Pendant la semaine je travaille. (During the week I work.)
Je travaille le matin, l'apres-midi, et le soir. (I work in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening.)
Je travaille le week-end, aussi. (I work on the weekend, also.)
Je travaille tous le jours. (I work every day.)

Je ne suis pas en cours de francais aujourd'hui. (I am not in French class today.)
Je suis en cours le lundi et mercredi. (I am in French class on Mondays and Wednesdays.)
Je ne suis pas dans un autre cours le semestre. (I am not in another class this semester.)

Je comptez de zero a trente en francais. (I count from zero to thirty in French.)

That's all I got. I will probably look this over in a few months when I've learned how to conjugate verbs or whatever and cry at how harsh and broken my current attempts at French are, but this is kinda fun being immersed in a new language and using it in my everyday life, as pathetic as that life may seem when I'm buried in my school books.

I hope you do not finding my blogs too boring as I trudge through this semester (this semester is 4 (quatre) months long - yikes)lol. As soon as I can break away, I'll try to get a life or something like it so I can have something interesting to post.

Bonsoir! (good evening) A demain (See you tomorrow),
le francophone Mindy (the French-speaking Mindy)

Francais lesson of the day: All work and study and no play makes Mindy a very dull girl!

French Immersion

2009-01-18T10:47:00.003-06:00

It seems I have been lax in my posts recently, but I will definitely keep up with the posting from here on out. Nothing new going on in the life and times of Me, but the new Spring 09 semester has started. I am only taking one class - and boy is it a doozy.

Here's a bit of a (language) "history" lesson. I was lazy (I mean lucky?!) enough to have chosen a career path that did not require studies in foreign language. In elementary school I took a French class but I can barely remember the basics. While my friends were taking Spanish or French in high school, I was taking Quiz Bowl. lol. In college my original major (9 years ago) was Business Management, and a foreign language was optional - which in college-speak means I didn't have to even think about taking it.

Well, genius that I am, I decided to re-enter into the college life a few years ago after being out for about 5 years or so, and I chosen English as my major. Why? Because I am a glutton for punishment.

I now have to take 4 years of a foreign language, which is okay because I love learning. I want to learn sign language and Spanish. But as my (bad) luck will have it, my two jobs and poor planning on my part, caused me to miss out on changing my schedule which was required to start taking Spanish 101. I scoured the class offerings and found French 101 night classes.

Feeling relieved and extremely lucky, I hurriedly signed up and wrote that big, bad check to insure I was in the class. French. Well, my heritage is Cajun French, so I guess I can learn a bit of French.

I went to purchase the new book I needed for class, which was $213. Jeez don't people know that college students are usually poor. I cringed as I swiped the card, removing my hard-earned money from my poor checking account. (I think I actually heard sounds of the banking gods laughing as I a tear trickled out of my soul as I mentally chronicled all of the other things I'll have to do without until payday.)

Well my first day of class was painful. The professor doesn't believe in speaking English in class (gulp). So luckily I had reviewed the pages for the lesson and did the assignments, but I pretty much had no idea what was going on.

Trying to incorporate learning a new language in my life, which is already riddled with jobs, responsibilities, etc., is really kicking me in the *shin. But I will persevere. The reason: because I will bribe myself. If I immerse myself in the French language and not only pass my classes but also learn to speak and write French fluently, then after completion of my forth class, Mindy is going to Paris! (I'm saving my lint-covered pennies now because this is a dream of mine anyway). And to be able to experience France while understanding what the heck the locals are saying...Priceless.

I've been thinking about the benefits of taking French classes when I really wanted to take Spanish and here is what I found. I love French things. I love foreign films yet hate having to read the subtitles. I love reading so by becoming fluent I can read French novels and hey even write fluently in French - yeah - translations rock. So all is not lost because I now have a game plan.

I'm setting up different French-speaking folk in my life to quiz and talk to me in French. This is allowing me to spend more time with my friends and family and call it required instead of just hanging out, which is always good. And I'm going to immerse myself in the language, learning about the country and the language, reading the gibberish in French newspapers online until it makes sense, and all around eating, sleeping, breathing everything French.

Guess what that means for you...you got it! I will incorporate my French learnings in my blog - genius. Because now I will definitely not have a life since I'll be studying and speaking broken French all the time; so what else will I have to blog about?

But the good news is, hey you may learn something, too. Keep in mind that I'm starting with the basics and have no idea about any grammar rules or anything, so most of it will be gibberish but the goal is start thinking, reading, speaking, and writing French. Even with my messups - it should be a hoot! So stick around for my future posts as we learn about...

la monde francophone (the French world)!

Bonjour, mes amis (Hello, my friends). Je vais tres bien! (I am very well). I love a lot of things that are French including:

la cuisine et le vin francais: (French cuisine) le champagne, le vin (wine), beignets, le crepes

la litterature fracophone: (French literature) Anais Nin

le cinema francais: (French cinema - actors in my case) Michael Vartan (Never Been Kissed and Alias), Vincent Perez (the Crow movies), Olivier Martinez (Unfaithful), Emma Watson (Hermoine Granger in Harry Potter)

les produits francais: (French products) Lancome, Dom Perignon, Evian, Chanel, Dior

Interesting tidbit: the French greeting with the exchanging of brief kisses on the cheek is called bises.

That's enough for today. Maybe you found some things French that you love, too. Until next time. Au revoir!

The Last Weekend!

2009-01-11T20:53:00.004-06:00

The last weekend before the new semester starts has officially ended; I must say that I used up every darn minute. Friday night I shopped and ate boiled seafood = yum, then I rested for my Saturday.

Saturday I worked all day long and then I headed out to a hole in the wall bar to listen to some friends from high school play in their band. The band is called Cheater Pipe and they rocked. It was good to see some old familiar faces and to be out and about. I was headed out to a dance club with some friends when I took a wrong turn following the wrong car and ended up in some stranger's driveway. Good job, Mindy! Way to almost get shot! This is south LA, you know. Some people are nuts. But I survived and took myself home - way too much excitement for one day.

I got a new drafting table and paper organizer for my studio - I really needed to finish that thing before school started. Just another thing I didn't accomplish, I guess.

Sunday was filled with working on art with my young student. She finished her first project, a book made of playing cards that will be a present for her friend. Then I went to my friend Shavonne's house. We were planning a Supernatural marathon. She introduced me to a new favorite show, Ghost Whisperer (how do I survive without TV? If I get cable I may never leave home). When her friend arrived, we popped in the first disk of Supernatural Season 1 and I'm officially hooked. We only got through about 8 episodes but it was wonderful. Hmm! How long will it be before I can finish the season? I wonder.

School starts on Wednesday. I have to memorize French intros and greetings by then. I need a dress for a Mardi Gras ball the first week in February; so I better start shopping. I have a critique session planned for Saturday (no telling if it will occur) and I need to get some serious cleaning done in my life.

So the vacation is over. It's back to working, school, writing, working out, blah - I'm depressed just thinking about it. lol. To start the new week off, I'm setting a goal to send out 2 finished pieces of my writing and to finish the January newsletter.

Laziness Before the Storm

2009-01-06T19:20:00.004-06:00

My last few days of freedom are upon me. As I gear up for the new semester that starts 1/14/09, I look around at all of my unfinished business, and all I can do is laugh because it just ain't getting done.

I'm marking things off of my list, but not as quickly as I had planned. My studio will not be done by January, but I have two shelves to prime and paint which I can't do in this nasty weather we've been having. So oh well. I have a great head start and will just have to keep working towards it through the semester.

I have completed the Challenge Me project. Ironically, the project I choose was Jess's first post: using quotes from/about writers.

And the winner is.......(drumroll).....Jess. Congrats Jess! You are now the owner of a MindyLou Original writing journal. I'll get it to you at the next meeting. I would post a picture but it seems I'm without a camera. (Too much partying for New Years). I'll add it later. You all will just have to WAIT AND SEE. lol

Thanks, Alli, for keeping me honest! (She pulled the name so I wouldn't cheat). There were some great ideas in the Challenge Me post, and I can't wait to give some a try in my personal art and writing journals.

On the school front: Due to technical difficulty (aka user error), I failed to change my work schedule in time to make it to day classes like I had planned. So I was forced to make a mad review of the sparse classes left looking for anything that I could take at night this semester. Surprisingly, I found French 101. So I will be learning a foreign language, just not the one I originally planned (Spanish). But it will come in handy when I move to Europe right! So all is definitely not lost. Destination: Paris here I come!

I caught up on some movie watching for the past few days. I finished Season 3 of How I Met Your Mother, Season 1 of Samantha Who?, Becoming Jane, King Arthur. I'm feeling so lazy right now. I just realized that I never got around to the weeklong reading marathon I had planned. Where did the time go? Oh well.

Had a scrapbooking party, and I have finally finished some pages for my art journals (usually I just play around while everyone else gets stuff accomplished)...well I have 3 finished pages and the Challenge Me project. Woohoo!

Birthday Celebrations: Alli (yesterday), Cheryl, China, and Stew's new baby boy! (today) - what a great day!!!

Currently Working On: BWG January Newsletter

Listening To: Sarah McLachlan - Song For A Winter's Night (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbgfXp5M02M) - My obsession with Ioan Gruffudd stems from my novel. My characters are calling out to me, showing me signs, making me laugh. They want me to get back to their story. It's time I guess. I just don't want it to be, but I can't stop the words, even when I want to. So okay, Hayden. I'm coming. Hold your fangs!

Drinking: Water (jeez I'm boring)
Dreaming Of: sushi or boiled seafood!
Waiting: to find a match!

To The New Year!

2009-01-01T12:38:00.002-06:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR and Happy Birthday, Stacey!! (My wonderful sister was born..ughh 21 ?...years ago today...lol)

I have been a bit off this past month as I needed some downtime. Chasing rainbows as I call it took a lot out of me. But I survived and will thrive because that's 'the way I roll.' But this year I will really try to keep up with the posting as I find it more theraputic then anything and I need to make it more constant.

I guess I should start with updates that I have left hanging in the wind:

Challenge Me: We had a scrapbooking meetup last weekend, where I chose a winning challenge from my previous Challenge Me! blog. I started on the project and should be completing it this weekend. The lucky winner will be chosen at that time and the prize distributed. So challengers, keep your fingers crossed.

Operation Get Stacey Reading Paranormal: Well she borrowed three books from my "library" and she managed to read all of the Twilight series. She's a vampire/werewolf addict at this time, and loves Twilight in general. (She now has the soundtrack and googles the books and movie for more information). My niece and I have created a monster, and we love it!! Welcome to my world, Stacey, where vampires, shapeshifters, witches, monsters etc., RULE! lol

Operation Studio: I have finished unloading the last (I think) of the boxes of clutter for separation and finding a home for everything. My new shelving unit rocks the house, and I wish I could have a room full. I'm currently working on my art journals and inspiration has struck to get some "inspiring" pieces for my room so that I can look at them and remember why I want to create and need a wonderful, clutter-free room to get it done. I plan on getting all my artsy-inclined friends to help me get some pieces so that when the room is finished I'll have the inspiration already waiting to be put up from people who inspire me every day.

Writing: I submitted a story this month. I critiqued a creative nonfiction piece and revamped a previous prose poem that I wrote in my creative writing class at the beginning of last year and made it into a short story piece. Those two pieces have been sent to my critiquers for review. I have compiled a list (30+ pages) of submission possibilities and have started a short story for one of the magazines on the list. So I have started the ball rolling toward my writing goals for 2009, which leads to my next update.

Writing Goals 2009: Finish, revise, and critique current novel, with the working title of Wolf Moon; send out at least one submission a month; write one new piece: poem, short story, exercise, etc., a week; attend writers’ conferences: Nola Stars, Jubilee, WGA, BWG; give an art journaling workshop; join an online critique group; try an unfamiliar genre; get published; stay in school - work toward that degree; art journal regularly; get organized in the submission process; stay on top of my tax deductions during the year; be on the lookout for all freelancing opportunities; and most importantly - WRITE MORE!

New Years Eve was a wonderful experience. I joined some friends for a night on the town to celebrate my friend Tanya's birthday (HAPPY BDAY!!) and the new year, complete with a limo to transport us from place to place so that we could "drink responsibly." It was a fun-filled night complete with thrills, chills, spills, and all kinds of stuff, including the best damn pizza I've ever eaten at 3am. lol (I have pics to share as my lovely camera suffered last night and the corpse may have to be buried this morning) but I'll get some posts in as soon as I get some pics from my friends.

I keep saying 2009 will be my year, and a tiny piece of my heart is crossing its fingers, pulling daisy petals, and wishing on shooting stars in hopes that it will be. Like any other year it will be filled with its ups and downs, which I will survive from either way because that's what we do. But I seriously need some happy moments this year.

In 2008 I stepped closer and closer to the person I used to be, joining with the person that I always thought I would be, mixed with the person that I am. I remember the girl I used to be, with all of her lovely flaws and gems, and I miss her. But she had to change, to grow, to become stronger, smarter, less naive. She lost parts of herself yet gained others. The parts that are integral to her true self were not lost completely I have found but merely hidden.

This past year I have managed to find some and merge those pieces of me with the person that I have become. It's a beautiful thing really. And I guess I needed those years in between of nothingness to gain the power and the desire to make the changes in my life that are making it all possible. I will continue to look for her, and I will continue to miss pieces of her for as long as I am able.

And it's the girl that I used to be that made me able to chase those rainbows this year. Though the ending did not come out to the fairytale that I had imagined in my heart, I found myself needing to go through with the whole process, excitement, fear, freaking out, ache, disappointment, happiness - because I had not let myself feel these kinds of things about the chase. So in 2009 I vow to continue chasing those rainbows because I won't find what I'm searching for hiding under a rock.

2009 Hopes:

I hope to have all of my friends, family, and loved ones with me throughout the year and beyond.
I hope you know how much your love, support, help, friendship, and beauty means to be.
I hope you get all of the things that you need in life.
I hope you have happiness in yourself and all that you do.
I hope that you find the thing that you love doing and make time to do it.

M

A Christmas Wish

2008-12-20T17:16:00.007-06:00

I've been staying away from the computer lately. I tend to spend so much time on the Internet I never get anything done. So I had to put myself in Internet time-out for a while. I have found that there is life without the computer and it is so much easier to get things done now.

I am currently going through all of my scrapbooking, art journaling, writing supplies, etc. and organizing everything. My studio is starting to form and it will be beautiful when it's done (but the process for anything is that it gets messier before it gets better). So I'm in that super-messy stage. But I'm finding so many cool things that I bought (and I'm realizing where all my money went over the years (lol)).

For NaNoWriMo winners, the prize includes a free print copy of our NaNo story. So I'm working on that to get it ready by the due date so that I can get this crazy story (unedited and beautiful anyway) in print (good motivation to get some revising done.)

Yesterday I did some last minute shopping (the traffic was disgusting) including an (expensive) visit to Woven Treasures in Lake Charles. I ate lunch at one of my favorite Greek restaurants with my oldest friends, Crissy and Greg.

I find that there are times when I simply do not understand much of anything in life. Whatever is my purpose? I wonder. Or is it simply to take up space. Who knows? Probably none of us ever do. I guess others just have better things to do with their time then sit and analyze everything to death. But I find that sometimes I am tired of hopin' wishin' and dreamin' day in and day out.

Despite my doldrums, something remarkable happened. (This is not news to me for sure) I have the best friends and family in the world. They are so supportive and loving. I mean what more can a girl ask for?

My sis made me a fantastic Christmas present (and she just couldn't wait until Christmas to give it to me!! lol) She took my blog posts from day 1 until the end of November and copied my short story Heading Home and had a book published for me. So that I would remember how much they love me, support me, and are proud of me and my writing, and so that I did, in a sense, become published in 2008. I cry just thinking about it. My family rocks! (and are so much better than I deserve.) Because bad aunt that I am, I missed my nephew's last soccer game of the season because I was out chasing rainbows. Talk about make a person feel like a mess.

Had a girls day out today. Stacey, Lauren, Katie and I went to the movies - we saw TWILIGHT!!! Woohoo. It was great. So much better than I thought it would be. There are some parts that I would change to mirror that which was in the book, but you know Hollywood. It definitely makes me want to finish reading the series. I mean, I only have 1 book to go. So finish it already.

My niece and I are adamant that we will shift my sister's reading tastes to the paranormal. She left my house today with Christine Feehan's Shadow Game to let her dip her toe in. It's more scientific and not vampire/werewolf oriented so it may be just what we need to get her into viewing our kind of weird. lol. We shall see. (we'll have her hooked on vampires in no time!!)

The passage of time is usually never a beautiful thing in my life, but I find myself watching the calendar and anxiously awaiting the arrival of 2009. Hopefully the new year brings the end of constant disappointments and sadness. I pray that we are able to get through the tough times ahead. To my wonderful family and friends, I love you guys more than anything!

My wish: Keep my friends and family safe and happy this holiday season. Help us get through the troubles up ahead and let us always remember what really matters.

Have a safe and happy holiday to all!

Another Dreary Day in the Life

2008-12-10T09:47:00.005-06:00

This is the part of myself that I really dislike. I get lazy. The semester is over; I received a B in that dreaded English class, so I'm bummed. I have no deadlines. I have some down time. And without lists and deadlines, my productivity grinds to a halt.

The end of the year is coming to an end, and as usual as much as I love the holidays, I hate the holidays. Nothing else ever seems to so glaringly point out the things that I miss in my life. So I beg 2009 to hurry up and get here.

I started the reading frenzy but the anthology I choose had a short story from one of my favorite authors and it was surprisingly disappointing. Don't get me wrong the characters and the story line are fabulous, but some of the word limit restrictions of a short story can sometimes cause the story to be rushed. Needless to say, I haven't picked up another book yet. So much for the frenzy. I seem to be constantly disappointed lately. It was so much easier when I had no expectations. Now I seem to set the bar to high in all aspects of my life and nothing ever quite lives up to it.

Phase 1 of Operation Studio/Organized Creative Space is under way. I moved the treadmill out of the living room, making room for my new desk; I moved 2 pieces of bulky furniture out of the workroom and now I'm getting everything out of it (and stashing it in the other rooms in the house - its scary for sure!) I want to see nothing but walls and a floor before I start organizing and deciding if I really need to bring some of my (junk) back into the room.

Stacey, Lauren, and I had a scrapbooking night last week. Stacey, who is new to scrapbooking like myself but she's actually good at it) had a new tool. And it seems I always want what my big sis has so I ordered a crop a dile (for scrapbooking and alter journaling) off of ebay and it came in yesterday. I can't wait to start using it. (That's really sad when I get excited about scrapbooking tools - I need a life!). I currently have 3 working art journals: my travel journal (which I recently had to relocate to a new book because of book malfunctions), my 2007 life journal, and my new writing journal (old poetry instruction book - just bought it). I need to hurry up and finish 2007 since 2008 is almost over and I need to catch up. I still haven't found the perfect book for my 2008 life journal - but I'm scouring second hand bookstores until I find the perfect one. I'm currently prepping the pages in the 3 that I have so that whenever I have another scrapbooking night, I can actually come prepared to work!

My novel is percolating. I stopped it after a key moment, and I can't wait to see what my character does next. But her and I need some serious time apart. So I'll give us the space we need. But my new goal is to have the first draft DONE by March, 2009 (I'm expecting Lynn, Regan, and Skeeter to hold me to that!!) So we won't be apart for long.

We had our monthly Writers Guild of Acadiana meeting last night at my fav bookstore B&N. I actually have an introduction now. It's cool being able to say your name and a few accomplishments. And my good friend and loudest cheerleader, Lynn, gave me a great shout out for my BWG newsletters, and the word on the street is that I'll be giving an altered journal workshop for WGA in 2009 (excuse me while I go throw up at the thought of me in a room when people staring back at me expecting me to say something - uh yeah right).

President Deborah Leblanc gave quite a motivational speech. (I almost left to go write something) But I'm glad I didn't because the speaker was FANTASTIC. One of the best meetings I have attended this year. Guest speaker, DAVE PIERCE, came complete with a wonderful reading voice and great 60's music by a local musician - I missed his name - while Dave told tales from his life as a DJ during the 60's with the conversion of Rock onto FM stations.

Another boring day off of work with nothing to do, sigh. Maybe I need another hobby or something. I'm guess I'll go see Twilight after my dr's appointment this afternoon.

Challenge me!

2008-12-07T08:50:00.006-06:00

I'm looking for some ideas. I'm trying to start a few small journaling/altered art projects that are outside of my comfort zone. I have tons of topics that I can come up with on my own, but I figured it would be more of a challenge if I use someone else's topic(s). And I'll let my blog readers give me the assignment. If you never post comments - now's a good time to start. You can post anonymous and just let me know your name in the body of the email or some clue who you are!!)

So help me come up with topics (general themed like the writer's journal for the party was unisex and general in relation to writing). Though I'm Curious George, I'll try not to read any of the comments until the challenge ends. After 10 days from today (end of day)I'll close the challenge.

Any comments after that day will not be included in the drawing or challenge topics. Once the product is complete. I'll put the names of all the posts (multiple posts equal multiple names) in a bag and the lucky winner will get the finished product (keep in mind it will take some time to percolate the original idea into the altered art.)

And I won't know who gets it until after product is finished so my impression of the person will not affect the outcome of the product. And if the topics are great (say I get a challenging word included in the options) I may combine one or more of the topics to make it more challenging!!

Are you game? Give me some ideas! Astound me (I love a challenge). The new dictionary that I received from Judy's gift at the Christmas party is beside my computer. I'm ready to be boggled!

I've got a Dirty Santa in my Life

2008-12-06T23:28:00.007-06:00

Life is pretty good right now!

Work is actually going well. Nothing like major headlines that your company is "looking to get rid of 12,000 jobs" and HELLO productivity suddenly goes through the roof. Started a new healthy lifestyle this week. Things seem to be going great so far.

I'm working in my art journals. Bought 5 new potential books to alter. Looking forward to the process. I'm still avoiding my writing like the plague, while I bite my nails in fear, waiting for my English grade to post.

I traveled to Lake Charles today for the Bayou Writers' Group monthly meeting and Christmas Party. Talk about fun times. Those cookies and my fav cheeseball (thanks Bev) (I'm in MY version of heaven). We played Dirty Santa and while my present was one of the last few to get chosen, it seemed very popular, right up there with the bottles of wine - great competition.

This was the project I worked on with the Sassy Scrappers on 11/22/08. The secret is out now. Great book - I think I need one for myself. I hope the new owner enjoys it as much as I enjoyed making it.

Just a recap of the meeting fun. We counted the library table decoration as a christmas present, somebody (dummy me) picked the table decoration as a gift (it was cute!!!), Jessy's gifts were stolen continuously - poor jess. Our gallant gentleman new member rescued my sunglasses for me, sigh! We knocked a table over - sounded like glass breaking - scared me to pieces. (opps! It wasn't me!) And two bottles of wine were present. Did I mention Bev's cheeseball. Yeah BWG knows how to throw a party lol!

Today, a friend discussed with me the opportunity to add something wonderful to my life and writing career. The problem: If I add one more thing to my pile, I may lose them all. What do you do when you cannot fit one more thing into your life without getting rid of something else? How do you decide what, if anything, to get rid of? How much will you regret it if you do not jump at this chance? (Sigh! making decisions sucks!)

Drink: Coke Zero

Currently: Working (Yuck)

Eating: Nothing (I'm becoming one of those people who eats carrots. Quoting from 1 of my fav movies "A Mirror Has Two Faces" - "Isn't that tragic?")

Music: You don't want to know!

Mood: contemplative

Finally! Some Down-Time.

2008-12-02T21:02:00.005-06:00

My schedule is now quite "Open." If I close my eyes, I swear I can hear singing. Trumpets. (Wait, I think I hear rap, too!) Okay so maybe its not as tranquil as I thought, there's a bit of kick to it!

The Fall 2008 Semester is officially over for me. I passed my History Class and opted out of the final - and went into the final for my English class with a low A. Hopefully (keep your fingers crossed), I was able to BS my way through the three final essays. I have to get my GPA up.

Now I have about 7 weeks to get everything on track before the next semester starts. Here's the lineup of my WIPs:

I'm putting my novel on hold for a sec. NaNo has worn me out, and Nalia and I need some time apart. I'm all written out. The story is not over. It seems there was a kidnapping, the victim has been found but they are trying to track down the 5 baddies. We found one and he's being interrogated by big bad shapeshifting hotties. And we got a name for another one. So we're stalking him. But a new baddie from a whole other direction just showed up and messed with my mind. So I'm looking forward to this time apart while I give Nalia time to figure our how she's gonna get out of this mess. (I don't know why I keep writing stories so complicated that I confuse and aggravate myself until I bury the WIP's under the bed and pray the dust bunnies get them.)

I want to get dirty - with paint and glue and glitter. I'm going to learn how to scrapbook and work on my altered journals for a bit.

I've learned a lot in the past year about altered journals. And it looks like I'll have to start a new book and try to salvage the ones that I've already started because they are not sturdy enough to stand up to the altering. They are already showing signs of not holding up. Instead of letting it progress to my current nightmare (my first journal is in 4 pieces), I'm going book shopping for a new journal that makes the grade, and I'm going to transplant the pages. Some kind of way.

I'm looking forward to this time of creating and hanging with my sister, Stacey, and my niece, Lauren, and old pals, Tanya and Jill. A bunch of creative ladies to spread and share the creative inspiration. Good times.

But my next plan of action: READING. I haven't read in 2 and a half months (I got some reading done during hurricane season!) So I have some catching up to do. Stacks and stacks of goodies - Sherrilyn Kenyon's newest Darkhunter novel and Laurell K. Hamilton's newest Merry Gentry novel - those are first on my list and the only two new ones I am allowing myself to buy (I have stacks and stacks already of the "to read" variety). So I'm planning about 2 weeks of marathon reading. That should give me my needed reading fix.

During this time, Operation Studio is in effect. I am currently "Fall" cleaning (must have missed the spring version) and I have to get everything out of my second bedroom because I'M GETTING A STUDIO/WORKROOM/WRITING ROOM/DREAM ROOM lol. So there are boxes to pack and move and furniture to haul out and new shelves to put up and walls to tear down. This is going to be so much fun. Well, now that I'm thinking about it, maybe not! Deadline: First day of class. So the clock is ticking. I cannot write or create in a room that is so cluttered it makes me ill and where I cannot find anything so I go out and buy more junk (And downsizing isn't an option - I'm a collector, a thing-finder; so I need stuff).

I have a stack of critiques to go through - nightmare - of stories that my wonderful critique group slaved away at for me that I've neglected until I "have more time." (Does anyone even know what that means - that's fiction, right?). Gotta get those onto my computer and out of my studio.

Yep, I love the break in between semesters. I usually wear myself out and need a vacation from my vacation. But it feels so good to have my life back. I need some down time.

Drink: Water (yuck)
Music: Sade - The Sweetest Gift
Mood: Hopeful
Saying of the day: "It can only get better, right?"

Some Days Are Harder Than Others

2008-11-30T20:29:00.004-06:00

I went to bed last night just 1700 words short of my 50,000 go for NaNoWriMo. I woke up fresh and early and got it done! I have completed the 50K words in 30 days that I set out to do and I feel great!

Sadly the story is not done. My character has a new bad guy after her, and she still has a kidnapping to solve. So her and I still have some time to spend together while I get to the real end of her story, but it was a great month. We really learned a lot. I'm taking a break for bit. I really need to catch up on my reading!! And I have a pile of critiques to clear out of my studio. And a studio to create!!

My English final is due tomorrow - 3 essays. I have finally finished them. YES!!! I can't wait for this darn class to be oooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeerrrr!!!

The funeral was exactly what I expected. But I loved seeing my aunt and uncle.

I needed some cheering up, so my long-time BFF Crissy, cute preK teacher extraordinaire, and I went out for dinner and a movie. We watched 4 Christmases (HILARIOUS! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT) and had a bit of my favorite Italian cuisine at Olive Garden. (I would have loved an Italian Margarita but guess I couldn't finish my paper drunk, and I don't want to be hung over tomorrow - those drinks have kick).

An uneventful weekend for sure. I went shopping at some local flea markets - bought a bunch of stuff for my new studio. And I have some great new vintage pieces for my altered art and art journals. (I can't wait to get into some paint soon!) My niece and sister are going Sassy Scrappers with me. Woohoo! I've created monsters. My brother-in-law is mad at me (my sis keeps buying scrapbooking supplies - hehehehe). I look forward to working in some art. Words are kinda getting on my nerves this week.

My first short story is published and available for viewing online at www.theshinejournal.com/blanchardm.htm . Go check it out!

Mood: tired
Music: Katy Perry - Hot n Cold
Motivation Level: 1.5 (out of 10)

Taking a Step Back

2008-11-29T18:37:00.004-06:00

As the end of the month approaches with the NaNoWriMo Challenge due, 3 English papers due, and a newsletter due, I found myself a bit overwhelmed today. So I decided to take a step back from my life.

I threw my obligations into the (recently cleaned) backseat and opted to have a grand day filled with spur of the moment activities, like shopping at local flea markets, buying stuff for my new studio/workroom/writing room, visiting the local scrapbooking store which I never seem to find time to do, and watching a movie I purchased 3 months ago and never got around to opening much less watching, called Dedication, with Billy Crudup and Mandy Moore. (I'm a Mandy Moore movie-fanatic). He's a writer, she's an illustrator - really good!

Seeing Billy put me in the mood for another movie of his, so I pulled out one of my favorites, Stage Beauty. I started the day in a rut, depressed about a funeral I'll be attending this weekend, not wanting to write anymore, for my novel or my English class, and just in a general funk. (Wait! Me without words, (shudder); now what kind of world is that - a scary place for sure. But don't get too excited I can still manage to talk your ear off!)

Regardless, I made the best of it. And while the words were lost, I did the next best thing. Chin up with a smile, I escaped. And finding that escape I returned to my precious movies and found the passion and emotion that is missing in a lot of the movies that are made today.

I guess it's easier to show passion and emotion when you're quoting Shakespeare but Claire Danes and Billy Crudup really light up the screen, which is just what I needed right now. Because my character is headed for her onstage debut - which leads to her next BIG (hot) scene with the hero. Hmmmm. I should be able to breeze through 6000 words now!!!

Drinking: Coke Zero
Music: Sick Puppies - My World
Mood: Melancholy.

It's sad to see the heroes of our past fall. Rather than think of the recent situation - where I'm the hated black sheep of the family - I will remember us as we used to be. The family get togethers, crawfish boils, cousins everywhere, and the 6 men who stood strong as one family. I'll remember the man who came to the circus with us, who hung out with us, and who made us laugh. I'll remember the good days. Rest In Peace.

So Much To Be Thankful For

2008-11-27T17:17:00.006-06:00

What a wonderful day! I love having the day the off!!!!

My family does not believe in a traditional turkey dinner. I can't remember what we ate when I was a kid, but Thanksgiving, as with most holidays, were usually at my grandmother's house with the whole gang (aunts/uncles/cousins). But the tradition seems to have changed as everyone got older, and Thanksgiving is at my mom's house each year. It's a small affair. Lunch is cooked by 10 am, and you had better be finished eating by 12:30pm cause the 'kitchen's closed', and we get kicked out. The rest of the day can be spent doing whatever we want to do, at our own houses (lol).

Until I started working at AT&T 6 years ago, I have never experienced a "real" Thanksgiving feast like I read about and see in the movies. A friend of mine, Licia, decided to cook a Thanksgiving meal for me. She started at 3am and by 12pm (what is taking so long) I still had not eaten. After we raided her neighbor's apartment for some of their turkey grub, I decided the whole turkey fiasco was not for me.

This is the Blanchard Family Thanksgiving meal:

Some of my Mom's finest seafood gumbo and potato salad (the potato salad was a bit dry this year - so it may not look that great but it sure tasted good). My niece and I usually are in charge of washing dishes so we love using paper plates instead of the "fine china." You can keep all that meat and mess. I'll stick with the easy fixin' foods.

On this Thanksgiving Day 2008, I have a lot to be thankful for. I have family and friends who love and support me. I have a great critique group and writer's group. My life is full of hobbies and dreams that I get to work toward every day. My first story will be published, hopefully, in 3 days. And I seem to be working toward finishing a novel; a first for sure.

These are two women that show me courage and strength each and every day. Intelligent, beautiful, resilient. They inspire me and make me want to be a better woman, mother, sister, friend, just like they have been every day of their lives. Yvonne (mom) and Belver (grandmother):

Stacey, the world traveler and scrapbooking fanatic, wonderful mother of 2 beautiful kids, photographer, best big sis a girl could ever ask for:

Jason, my fav and only little brother, electrician extraordinaire, dare-devil, hard working, lover of toys (trucks, bikes, 4wheelers, etc)

Lauren, my beautiful niece, honor student, Harry Potter loving, smart alec Jr., lover of music and dancing

Michael, my sweet, sweet nephew, so cute in his new glasses, gameboy playing, soft spoken, I just love his blue eyes and his sweet smile

Paul, my brother-in-law, smart alec Sr., comedian, iPhone lover, motorcycle riding, foosball playing

Today I'm feeling a bit melancholy. Our family is growing and changing and yet for me it feels like my life is standing still. Daddy's birthday just passed on the 22nd, and I miss him more and more every day. How different would our lives have been had that one moment been altered in our pasts? Who would we be? But what happened happened and cannot be changed.

But I miss you, Daddy. I wish you could see us now and see Michael and Lauren grow up. I wish they could know what a wonderful person their grandfather was. I wish I could see your smile and your eyes light up in laughter just one more time.

I'm thankful for the day spent with my wonderful family, and for the fact that we were all together this holiday! Thanks for keeping my family and friends safe and healthy. Thanks for every day that you give us. Thanks for life!

Sassy Scrappers

2008-11-22T18:08:00.007-06:00

Today I attended the Open House for the Sassy Scrappers MeetUp group in Lafayette (LA) with my long-time friend, Tanya.

She was working hard:

And I was hardly working:

J/K. The final piece is a secret so I can't post that picture (I know you're so disappointed).

This was a great opportunity to enjoy the company of some wonderful ladies while creating on such a beautiful Saturday. I plan on attending many more meetups as I learn what scrapbooking is all about. Anyone in the surrounding areas who loves to scrapbook or create altered journals should check it out and JOIN US FOR SOME FUN-FILLED meetups.

Its amazing how much work we accomplished. I thought I had brought too much stuff (okay I had) but I could have brought more because this meetup was SO PRODUCTIVE.

Find out more about this group at http://scrapbook.meetup.com/624/ . I hope to see you at the next one!

Every Day is a Blessing!

2008-11-20T18:51:00.007-06:00

Sometimes, I hate being such a pessimist. Things are going so well in my life, and I keep looking around for the other shoe to drop. Of all the things I could change about myself that would be the first one. How did I ever get this way? But the believers of The Secret say that such thoughts welcome negativity into your life, so moving on.

The Good News:

I did the impossible and passed that History test with flying colors (yep I set the curve) - Go Me! It seems the answers I got wrong were only worth 1 point. The big points were in the short answers, identification, and essay - and guess what - I'm a writer so I rocked that test! WooHoo! So my History class is officially over. I don't have to take the final - YES!

In English I only have one more assignment, which my professor will give out on Monday - a take home test - dealing with Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson - good times. I'll have to struggle with that during Thanksgiving week. But the semester is definitely winding to a close.

My first story will be published online IN 10 DAYS, YIKES. I'm experiencing mixed emotions of super excitement followed by the need to vomit in fear. And this is only for less than 800 measly words - jeez.

We bid for vacations last week at work - it goes by seniority, and I received the three weeks that I bid for: Easter - Washington trip with my girls!, My Birthday Week - hmmm maybe a cruise like in 2007, and Christmas - I'm really hoping there's a good reason to take Christmas off! (Even though Shawn cursed me out because I got it - sorry, love, I know you wanted it, but ITS MINE! lol)

Celebrated the great day with supper at my favorite sushi restaurant - SHANGRI LA - I love how the waiters just bring me my drink without having to ask what I want. Kind of sad really. But anyway I NANOWRIMOed over complimentary edamame while I people-watched. Life is Good!

Speaking of NaNoWriMo, I'm at 27,334 words which is way behind schedule. I only have 10 more days to meet deadline, but the story is coming along. My plot has progressed from where I started in November and it seems to be headed toward an ending. Hopefully, I finish this one.

Some days, I feel like a wannabe talking about writing novels and never actually finishing anything. It's not my fault. I sleepwalked through life for about 5 years, and I'm finally awake and living. So I have to play catch up with the dreams, new and old, that I ignored for so long. Part of the problem is being a Gemini and part of it is just being semi-ADHD. I can't sit still. I'm afraid if I stop for a minute, I'll fall asleep again.

Those who have known me for a few years know what I'm talking about. The person I was even 3 years ago is not anywhere near the person I am today. I was absent from life, just getting by. In 2007 I woke up and I changed my life and now it just spirals, and I have to follow where it leads because there's no going back.

Yet that drive, that fear of being back in that place where I started pushes me away from people and pushes them away from me. It makes me a bit intense, a bit single-minded, selfish; I'm well aware of my own faults thanks. but I guess sometimes we need to be made aware of them. We need to see ourselves as others see us, like a glaring mirror in the harsh early morning light.

Sometimes, I'm so focused on the "prize," I miss out on the obvious, like those people standing beside me along the way. I forget to ask, "how are you, do you need anything, whats going on in your life?" It's not that I don't care. I'm making excuses, but I just figure that since I say what I have to say when I feel I need to say it, you will, too. But that's me and you're you and you don't. And I'm sorry. I'm aware now, and I'll work on it. (That's the best I can do).

I guess the point of all this is that it's going to be okay. No matter what happens, even if or when the other shoe falls, you'll deal with it, however you need to and you'll get up even when you want to crawl under the covers and hide, and you'll keep on going. And it doesn't help to look for the bad when there is something good staring you in the face.

During the month of November there is so much to be Thankful for. Every day is a blessing to me, and I hope it is to you, as well!

Mood: Melancholy
Drink: Pibb Zero
Tunes: Sade - Lover's Rock
Question on My Mind: Is it possible to be alone but never lonely? - (English professor asked us in class on Monday)
Lesson Learned: Do not let the errors of the past guide your future.

Strive To: Let hope in. Dream of the possibilities. Do not be afraid to close your eyes, and leap - You haven't sent anything out since August so submit something already!!!

First Collage on Canvas

2008-11-17T12:49:00.008-06:00

Here's my first collage on canvas:

It's for my mom's orchid society auction. Couple screwups on there but it's the first. Hopefully it brings the society some funds and she doesn't bring it back home because she felt she had to buy it herself rather than hurt my feelings. lol

The day is gone, and I have done nothing! Only accomplished 2400 words. Have only 4400 left to be caught up for the month. Then I can worry about my 2000 words each day from this point forward rather than continuously playing catch up. YEEEYYYY! Why is it that I always accomplish more when I spend 8 hours at work yet when I'm off I have no way of functioning and I get nothing done!?

School Update: The LAST ENGLISH PAPER assignment I was supposed to receive today has been pulled!!! Professor decided she will only give us the Final - Thank GOODNESS!!!!

Work Update: just found out I will be out of my second job come July - the state is downsizing ha - and that's my spending/spa/extra/vacation/book/art supply money job. Darn! I'm so bummed. I never save money like I should. It is what it is I guess. I'm lucky and will not complain; I still have another to fall back on - for now and its not until July. It's been over 2 and a half years since I didn't have 10 jobs. Whats a girl to do?!!?

Music: Gavin Rossdale - Love Remains the Same

Drink: Sprite Zero and Water

Mood: Too bummed out to write; but I would love to lay on a hammock among these flowers and listen to the waterfall and relax with a glass of red wine:

Ahhhhh.....peace at last!

All Conferenced Out

2008-11-16T17:04:00.008-06:00

Going a-conference-ing:

I wonder what I ever did before Blogging? Oh I probably wrote, created or did stuff - had a life maybe. I've only written 1000 words today. Stupid distractions and procrastinations.

The Bayou Writer's Group Bridge to Publication 2008 Conference is now over, and I'm washing clothes and trying to get ahead of myself while I'm so far behind already. The Lafayette crew consisted of: Mike (taking the pic), Me, Regan, Lynn, Skeeter (in order of seats at the table).

We're getting so much smarter - I can tell. The Conference was wonderful, and the Speakers were Fantastic. My notebook is full of info and ideas but I think I'm so intimidated by all of the WORK involved with writing, that it may take another 2 weeks for me to write again, which does me no good because I have to finish NaNo.

Here's one of the door prizes that almost all of the Lafayette crew wanted:

Darn, Mike got it! (He's trying to play it off but he was super excited!!! I think there's...a tear..corner of his eye...so happy!)

Couldn't wait for it to get here, and now its over. I feel it was a wonderful success, and I hope the fantastic Conference Committee realizes what a great job they did to make it all happen. I hope it is as successful next year.

Regan won the First Page contest! We are so proud of her. She's not bragging nearly enough. (I may have to start sending out emails on her behalf to brag about her wonderful win.) I have found that I must be the president of the Regan Rules! fanclub as I keep getting congrats on her behalf. (Yes folks, I am her minion and will do my best to get the fanclub newsletter out next month. lol) I had such high hopes for my page, Blood Kiss; oh well guess serial killers, blood, shit-kickers, and demons are not for everyone. There's always next year!!!

I always leave Lake Charles with a touch of sadness. There are some people that I have come to care for in the group and that I just hate not being able to visit over coffee on random days like my friends back home. To make matters worse, it seems my friend, Nona, is going away in December so I won't see her again until NEXT YEAR!! Oh no! She is the twin of my heart! I just love her to pieces.

It was a great conference. I would fawn over all of the speakers but I think I may be limited in blogging space. And kudos for the food; the cheese ball and wine have my vote any day.

The road trip, as always, was a treat. This gang cracks me up! Please do not give us ANY alcohol. Who knew an hour and a bit could be so much fun. You really don't want to know some of the conversations we had (and in front of mixed company - such a bad idea). I may not be able to show my face again! Here's the girls!

I had my first creativity session with my little "student" today. I'm giving my friend's daughter lessons/time on/for creativity. Basically we just have tons of fun at Allison's house and then I leave and her hubby, Chad, has to clean paint off the ceilings - j/k (if there's any there it wasn't me, Alli - I swear. and no I'm not blaming the kid) lol. Creating with Jenna is such fun. Can't wait to see the results after she is finished.

Well, I've done all the procrastinating I can allow myself to get away with for today. Have to put the clothes in the dryer and start NaNo-ing. Only 1 zillion words to go!

Music: Tool - Eulogy (HA!)

Drink: Nothing - I need more water

Mood: Lazy

Plans: Reorganizing My Life - Major spring cleaning is needed!

School: Almost over; thank goodness

Art: Working on Orchid Project (keep your fingers crossed)

LOVE is a Beautiful Thing!

2008-11-14T08:38:00.008-06:00

A joining of friends under one cause, standing together to speak out to those who need us, supporting each other regardless of how silly the act may seem...these are the actions of LOVE and friendship.

I am proud of those that made a stand and spoke out on our new cause To Write Love On Her Arms on 11/13/08. We did it for ourselves, for our friends, and for those that need it most yet remain unheard.

Great Job Girls!

On one of my previous posts, I wrote about To Write Love On Her Arms, which is a non-profit organization to help kids with suicide and depression which often leads to other problems when untreated: drugs, alcohol, eating disorders, or self-injury.

To support this cause, my friends and I vowed to write the word LOVED in red on one of our arms on the 13th of each month; people will be curious and ask, and we can spread the word.

**** STOP****

It's about to get personal, so those who do not want to read a personal story, please move on - either further on down the blog or to another blog.

****Last Chance****

In honor of this cause, I will share a story of my own pain, my own "brokenness," and my own struggles.

Years ago I never believed that I was anything, either beautiful or ugly. I was me, whole and unafraid. I was happy and secure. I felt loved by my family and nothing else really mattered.

Then everything changed.

I became something else. Something worth hiding. Something to be ashamed of. The views of other people took precedence over my own. And this is when I first learned that I was different. I was overweight.

I was 5 years old.

The moral of the story is that we never realize how much the ideals and views of television and others are spreading into the minds of our precious children. Who would think that 5 year olds would be so caught up on weight issues, on the differences between them and their new school friends.

Well, it starts early these days. And that's a sad, sad thing.

I have friends and loved ones who at one point in their lives have suffered with the struggles associated with this cause. We find our weakness or channel of self-injury and we "feed" it each and every time we feel different, alone, unloved, etc. And with time and untreated, it just gets worse.

There is a way to stop hurting ourselves and to find a healthier way to get rid of the pain. I don't know the answers, but I'm willing to research other alternatives for anyone who needs a hand. All you have to do is reach out to me!

So from here on out I take up the cause for myself and for you. On the 13th of each month, I’ll write LOVED in red on my arm to let you know that I’m here for you, and you are LOVED!

Have a LOVED day!

What Gets You Through?

2008-11-10T20:31:00.008-06:00

I'm writing like mad trying to get to where I am supposed to be for NaNoWriMo, and I'm so far off, I have no idea if I will make it.

The projects are piling up: doorprize for Momma's orchid club, doorprize for BWG Conference, present for Christmas Party BWG, baby blanket for baby showers. Jeez! (Everybody wants some altered art lol)

Well I have found a way to get rid of some of my clutter. I found a Girl Scouts troop to donate some of my wheelchair/walker bags to bring to a nursing home for the holidays - YAY! Frees up a bit of space for more junk.

History test this week to study for; I'm taking a break every 30 minutes to write for 15 minutes - really keeps me from passing out at the table at Barnes and Noble! So I'm writing away. The iPod is blaring. And I'm oblivious to everything. I move along to another place as the day progresses and realize that...I don't have my iPod.

OMGoodness, whats a girl to do?

Have I become too attached that I cannot function without something in my writing process.

I listen to a particular musician for all writing time dealing with a particular story (only on the longer ones). I can go anywhere and turn that music on and the words flow onto my Word Processor. I don't listen to this particular musician at all, unless I'm writing THIS story - no excuses. This establishes a pattern and the writing just happens.

I didn't realize that what I do in my writing has a negative side. What happens if I can't listen to the music? The words take a lot longer to come. I get them but its after I've bitten all my nails, twirled my hair into some freaky 'do, and cleaned my purse out two times.

So now I'm curious. What do you do? Do you have a system in place for your creativity? Is there something that you do to get into the creative "mood" and get the work flowing? (This is for writing, art journaling, scrapbooking, anything.) Let me know!!!

Word Count for NaNoWriMo: 7545 (yikes!)
Music Playing for Wolf Moon: Sick Puppies
Accomplishments This Week: I finished the first chapter (or prologue?) to Wolf Moon and sent it to my critique partners - can't wait to hear what they have to say!!!

Things On Hand During the Writing Process: Alphasmart 3000, iPod, pen, paper/napkin/post it, water, mints (I'm nauseated all the time - thanks Alli! lol), and a window - so I can see what's going on outside.

Tell me what gets you through the creative process!

To Take Up Arms

2008-11-07T19:09:00.004-06:00

I find inspiration everywhere. And the people that know and love me know that I'm a sucker for this kind of thing. A friend brought this cause to my attention and after researching it, I am inspired and touched and need to spread the word!

To Write Love On Her Arms is a non-profit organization to help kids with suicide and depression which often leads to other problems when untreated: drugs, alcohol, eating disorders, or self-injury.

This organization started over one young woman’s struggle with drug abuse. She was considered too much of a health risk to be admitted to a clinic. Her friends stepped up for this girl they loved, and they stayed with her for 5 days to help her overcome her addiction. They helped her save her life. She is alive and well today.

This group of remarkable people has a mission to spread the word and help others. They speak out on this “brokenness” that can be found within a lot of us, promoting love and help for anyone who has or knows someone who struggles with self-injury, depression, drugs, alcohol, body image issues, sexual addiction, etc.

There are many variations in place for spreading the word by other groups that have been inspired by this original group. Here are two:

(1) Have a day where anyone who wants to support the cause will go around their schools/jobs and write LOVED in red on other people’s arms; that day is December 13th.

(2) Write the word LOVED in red on your own arm for one day each month; people will be curious and ask, and you can spread the word.

The story of the original group who worked so hard to save a friend they loved and the inspiration and help that they have given teenagers with the many issues that they have to deal with has really touched my heart and inspired me to take up the cause.

I have friends and loved ones who at one point in their lives have suffered with struggles of self-injury, depression, body image issues, etc. (including ME). And I never want them to feel that they do not have a place to turn. So I’ll take up the cause, and on the 13th of each month, I’ll write LOVED in red on my arm to let them know that I’m here for them, for everyone, and they are LOVED!

Who’s with me?

Can be found at http://www.twloha.com/ and http://www.myspace.com/towriteloveonherarms .

Where I Stand

2008-11-04T20:24:00.013-06:00

Trying not to be negative is hard, but here's where I stand:

NaNoWriMo = 1965 (someone's behind - should be 6k by now)

School = can't even talk about it. Only 5 more weeks and ITS OVER for now.

Art Journals = 3 projects pending, I need to clear out my OTHER stuff first.

Newsletter = I tend to be a pain when it comes to the newsletter. I notice that I'm bossy about what I want for the newsletter, and that is so not me. But I have a whole month to worry about December's issue, so I'm putting it off - PROCRASTINATION ROCKS!

Healthy lifestyle = FANTASTIC!!! I worked out today!!!! Feels great and I'm not as tired as I normally am at this time of night (go figure you mean what other people have been saying about exercise being good for you IS TRUE?!? lol)

Writing = wrote my first "kiss" scene today. whew! (Don't know why I write romance if the gooey parts make me queasy. And I'm working up to that assignment Lynn and Regan gave me last month - beware, ladies...); have a meeting at the writing center at school tomorrow about my Mnemosyne story. Maybe they can help me figure out what she needs.

Work = smooth sailing. No news about any November Madness repeat or anything. My stats are better than they have been all year; though still not at goal.

Newest Bad Habit = I notice that I'm cutting people off when they talk. I don't remember doing this before? Before when? I don't know. Maybe a result of trying not to be anti-social. Who knows?

Some Other Stuff:

Question of the Day: How did the writings of the Transcendentalists lead to the abolitionist movement?
Answer: No clue! I have 5 pages of quotes and no idea what to do with them. Deadline: Yesterday (Yikes)

Mood: Complemplative
Drinking: Diet Coke (yuck)
Music: K's Choice - Believe

Working: Yes! But I'm off for half the day tomorrow! Woohoo!

Dreaming about: Life and this dock:

If I could walk along this dock every day,

I would sit and dream and write

In solitude or among friends.

Finding peace. Finding joy.

Forming moments that are mine,

Moments that are shared,

Moments that are never forgotten.

I love the blues in the pic.

My Favorite Things/Memories/ETC associated with Blue: Daddy, Journeys, Adventure, Cozumel, Micheal's eyes (nephew), Bluejays, Blue Jeans.

And despite popular belief, my eyes are NOT blue.

Weekly Review and Challenge

2008-11-01T22:28:00.012-05:00

Whew! What a week. I haven't blogged in a while, opps. Bad Mindy! Life seemed to get away with me this week. Quick recap to make up for the lost time:

Monday: work, class

Tuesday: work, dinner date with the Baudoins

Wednesday: work, class, work

Thursday: work, intense critique session with critique group - WOW!, Birthday celebration for Ryan - fell through for me because I had to go to work

Blah Blah. nothing interesting there. But I have joined a few altered journal groups and scrapbooking groups so we shall see how that goes. "Go Me!" for trying not to be antisocial. Possibility for giving a workshop (or 2) on altered journals may be in the works for next year.

Here's a pic from my newest art journal (Image and any posted like it were inspired by the work of Kelly Rae Roberts (Find out more at http://kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com/.)):

All Hallows Eve: work, shopping, went to a costume party hosted by one of my friends from high school. As I get older, I'm reminiscing about the 'good ole days.' I find myself thinking more and more about the friends I lost touch with along the way. I decided to go see some old friends at a Halloween party. Though scared to pieces, I ended up having a great time. There are some people that you meet up with and its almost like no time has passed. You get together and talk and laugh and it seems like not a day has gone by since. That was how it felt last night as I became reacquainted with my old friends, who are two fellow artists and extraordinary women. Here's me and the hostess, Tanya:

Saturday: Ugh!!! I'm too old for staying up til 130am. Way past my bedtime. Woke up tired and late. Rushed to get ready and to Lake Charles for BWG.

At BWG meeting, we elected new officers and had a guest speaker. I'm now officially Newsletter Editor for Bayou Writer's Group. Great lunch with friends and then Nona and I had a NaNoWriMo writing session at Starbucks. Its that time of year again! National Novel Writing Month is upon us and the goal is to write 50,000 words in 30 days. I didn't reach the goal for today, but I just barely missed it. All in all it was a great start though.

I went to the Hobby Lobby in Lake Charles, OMG it's huge. Boy, did I spend some money! Drive home was horrible, I was so tired. Took a nap and now I have to start my English paper that is due Monday. (*sigh*) I need a vacation!

Words Written: NANOWRIMO Day 1 = 1608

Mood: Reminiscent

Work: OFF YAY!!!!

Drinking: Dr. Pepper from Taco (Sm)ell

Dreaming About: Chunky choco chip cookies

Class: Paper due in two days. Haven't even started yet!

Music: Hilary Duff - Reach Out

Challenge: Take the plunge! Make the time. Choose to use the NANOWRIMO fire to get some productivity in your own creative life. Whether its a self-inflicted goal of writing a poem, short story, song etc or creating one page layout in a scrapbook, altered book, etc. Even just trying to write or create for 15 uninterrupted minutes a day. Get those ideas and craft/writing projects out and start CREATING. You can do this!

Side note: There must be some kind of secret challenge going on to get me 'hooked up' because I can't even count the propositions from today. Whats up with THAT?

True Blood Fever!

2008-10-24T23:08:00.008-05:00

What can I say, “sugar and spice and everything nice” was never the quote for me. Give me tall, dark, and dangerous. Fangs and blood in dark nights by the light of the full moon. Throw in a howl or a growl, and we have the makings for my kind of story. As Halloween fast approaches, I figured I would get with the program, or at least a little more in the spirit, of all things spooky.

I force my friends to read my work, and most of them aren't ashamed to admit that they don't read a lot, especially paranormal. But they love me, and they read each and every one of my stories anyway, helping me with countless corrections and versions as I critique the stories to death. I love my dear friends to pieces.

My critiquer/friend Shavonne, got hooked on a new TV series (and I'd like to think that the reason she was so open to watching such a show was because of how interesting my own stories are - lol). Anyway, she said I had to check it out; so last night I celebrated having the night off with a TV Marathon at her house watching nearly 6 hours of what has become my newest addiction: True Blood, the HBO Original Series based off of the novels of one of my favorite authors, Charlaine Harris.

Taking place in Bon Temps, Louisiana, waitress and mind-reader Sookie Stackhouse, played by the lovely Anna Paquin, lives in a time where Vampires are trying to integrate themselves into society becoming citizens with the same rights as humans. A unique woman with her open-mindedness towards the Vampires’ plight, Sookie is ready to befriend the first vampire she meets, the handsome William Compton. Weird and deadly happenings occur soon after his arrival to Bon Temps, including deaths of Sookie’s nearest and dearests. Surrounded by a “colorful” team of friends, Sookie will have to use her special abilities, instincts, and smarts, resulting from her life as a backwoods waitress no doubt, to find the killer, and save the people in her town, all while being awakened to her first experiences of love and passion.

The southern accents leave much to be desired. Tera and Sam’s accents are okay during some episodes, but I have no idea what accent Rene’ is supposed to be pulling off. I guess the idea was for a strong Cajun accent but it sounds more like a mix of Jamaican, Cajun, Latin, I don’t know. (But the actor is kinda hot – in that special way of Cajun men). My favorite part of the show is the particular brand of stupid some of the characters are portrayed as, from the crack team of local law enforcement, with their ‘Uh Miranda rights? (scratching forehead) Yeah, we forgot about those’ to the ignorant townsfolk. But its Hollywood and television and fiction, right?

But seriously, my fav part is Sookie and her little love triangle. I’m currently in a weird Bill-Sam debate. I just can’t decide which one I want for her (depends who is on the screen, I guess). Her BFFs, Lafayette and Tera, are fascinating characters, and I can’t wait to see more of them. And her brother, Jason Stackhouse is headed for trouble; however will he get out of jail this time.

Despite the horrible accents and hilarious “fangs,” I’M HOOKED. Which is exactly what happened a few years ago. When I first started my paranormal addiction, I flew through the series by Charlaine Harris; I stopped at the 6th book because life got in the way. But there are 8 books in the series, with book 9 coming out soon, and I can’t wait to start them from scratch and refresh my memory on the escapades of that Sookie Stackhouse.

This is a great series for anyone who loves Paranormal/Fantasy or anyone who may want to get their feet wet in the genre. Look for the Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Series and start with Book 1 today! And Sunday nights at 9:00PM ET, if you’re tired of reality TV (yuck) and looking for something different to watch, check out HBO.

Mood: Happy (though a bit bummed that I'm missing VooDoo Fest '08)
Drink: Hazelnut Hot Chocolate from Starbucks
Song: Right to Be Wrong by Joss Stone

Good Times

2008-10-20T20:41:00.006-05:00

I haven't been feeling much like writing lately. My words are hiding. I'm going to pretend its because I'm gearing up for the big NaNoWriMo 2008 that starts on November 1st. Sure that must be it.

I'm back at my workstation, arm deep in paint, glue, 'what is that in my hair?', etc. I'm working in my art journals. It's weird using words and colors and pictures for express myself. But I'm loving it. Since Friday, I have completed 3 pages and started the groundwork for 3 more.

And I just received the books I ordered last week, so now I can learn what it's really about.

Life is good.

I relaxed. I'm well aware that I have another History test and English paper coming up. There are classes to register for and I'm fresh out of night classes so I'll have to shift my whole life around to go to class in the morning. But is anyone worried? No way. Nada. Uh-uh.

I'm kicking back, putting my feet up.

I spent Saturday afternoon with my friend, Crissy. Her fiance was working out of town so we enjoyed some girl-time. We saw the Duchess - it was wonderful. I cried through most of it, though. Boiled crabs and shrimp for supper (yum yum). Then we shopped til we dropped and we were too tired to do anything but veg out in front of the tv.

Great times!

Sunday, I went with some friends to see a play at the Abbey Players Theater in Abbeville, in celebration of Rhegan's B-Day. The play was fantastic. It was hysterical. If anyone is heading that way check it out at http://www.abbeyplayers.com/ .

I had never been to Abbeville, much less this fantastic theater. I've found a gem. I'm planning on spending some quality Sunday afternoons in Abbeville from here on out.

I love Bridget Jones and her diaries, and every time I do this I think of her movies. It cracks me up:

Words Written: None
Mood: Reminiscent
Work: Super easy
Drinking: Nothing, boy am I thirsty!
Dreaming About: Chunky choco chip cookies
Class: Skipped!

Accomplishments

2008-10-17T23:49:00.004-05:00

As the Newsletter Editor of the Bayou Writer's Group, I'm having less and less time to do all of the things I already don't have time for. I become so obsessed with the newsletter that I start planning well in advance to make sure theres great information in there. So basically I spend 25 days out of the month stressing, planning, thinking, plotting, researching, living, breathing, eating everything that is "the Newsletter."

I'm not complaining. Its just harder to fit it in than I originally thought. There are some wonderful articles and pieces that will appear in the upcoming issues that I am really excited about, and I'm receiving the opportunity to network with some amazing writers, which I normally don't do and desperately need to do, and to help put the word out on BWG in any way that I can.

There is so much talent in the group, and the members are wonderful. Of all of my accomplishments in 2008, I feel the most important was when I walked through those library doors in February and joined Bayou Writer's Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. I have grown as a person and in my writing as a result of this fine group and the truly amazing members, who are so welcoming and willing to help others.

Words Written Today: None (But I'm working on two pages in my art journal and on the November Newsletter)

To A New Healthy Life

2008-10-11T18:01:00.004-05:00

My Aunt, best friend, co-worker, life-saver, sounding board..my heart...just found out that she has cancer. So she's dealing with the decisions about what to do as her next step.

After she left, I cried. She's my heart. Over the past 2 years we have gotten so close working together for my second job. (We have lived next to each other for 20 something years). She's the one that stays late at work so that I can go to a writer's group meeting, critique meeting, night classes, attend a writing workshop, etc. She's selfless and I take way to much advantage of her.

I love her to pieces. Here's a pic of her at Christmas time:

Having this happen has opened my eyes, has made me realize that I can't keep putting off the things I don't want to deal with hoping I'll have a chance to fix them later. Because we never know if there is a later. And I want to live the life I want now rather than hoping and dreaming for it later.

So, Nona and I have made a promise to each other to take a step towards a more healthier "us." So we'll vent, rage, motivate, cheer, etc., to and for each other. Tomorrow will be my first day. (So I can still have whatever I want today. ha! Always find a way to beat the system!)

All jokes aside, its back to Weight Watchers and making better choices. (no more pecan pies at Picadilly - sigh). A few weeks ago I was talking to someone and they asked if I had kids or a husband. When I said 'no' to both, he asked what was wrong with me. Now what kind of a question is that?!?

Needless to say, part of my problem with being in a healthy relationship isn't my weight from the guy's perspective but more my weight from my perspective. And its my psychological issues, and losing weight will not make my "problems" go away since I still see myself as I see myself.

But at least I'll be able to walk in Crissy's wedding in May and not feel too much like a nightmare in the bridesmaids dress. And at least I'll be able to go on vacation with Stacey and Lauren and not need a nap in the middle of the day when we take Virginia, Pennsylvania, Washington DC by storm in April.

So these are my goals and I'm sticking to it, one day, one pound at a time. Going through my goals from the beginning of the year, here's my last attempt at this same goal:

I started a new art journal on...witches. And you use the words on the page to make some little saying or sentence to associate with the work on the page. This one says "cow, cow, hide the old witch" so I used the skinny cow symbol (lol I love that skinny cow) and the old witch being the old me.

So anyway, here's to better choices. Starting on 10/12/08.

Words Written Today: none - I lived! I went to watch my niece play in a volleyball tournament.

What do you write?

2008-10-09T20:10:00.005-05:00

So my friend and fellow writer, Rhegan, recently asked me the difference between the whole Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fantasy confusion. And let me say that the explanation I gave was so far off the mark.

After reading my blog entries and a few of my recent short stories, she believes that my niche may not be in the "Paranormal Romance" field as I keep saying, but may actually be in a lighter form of fiction with more comedy and such - apparently, I tend to be quite comedic, and the girl usually doesn't end up with the guy...hmmm.

So I decided to do some research. Due to my Nancy Drew tendencies, I have tons of info on the genres now and may have figured it out. I looked over all of my previous stories and found that I have 2 series in Urban Fantasy and 4 in Paranormal Romance; so maybe I do belong somewhere in the genre mix. But my short stories of late are lighter and perhaps better. The problem may be that I tend to go towards dark paranormal but my voice in the stories keeps trying to go lighter with humor. Hmmm....I may have to see about all this. But thats for another day.

Looking over this massive list of unfinished projects, I wonder why I keep stopping in the middle of the story. It may have something to do with the fact that I dream in terms of a series (yeah can't finish 1 book though) so I know all the players and such so far down the line that I intimidate myself and put it aside for something new, simpler, easier. Only to repeat the vicious cycle. It may have something to do with what I feel I lack: I don't know enough, haven't lived, enough, aren't smart enough, etc. to tell the story the way it deserves to be told, so I'll put off on it until later - I'll be a better writer by then.

And so I do exactly what I do in my own life, I cover it up with comedy, a bit of laughter and maybe no one will notice that I don't know what I'm doing.

I had a meeting with my new advisor today. Apparently, I've been putting off my foreign languages and now have 4 classes to take before I can start taking my 400 level classes. So I'm running out of time and procrastinating too much. At this rate, I may be in school forever. Luckily, I can barely handle more than 2 classes a semester anyway.

My Fortune Cookie: Reading is for the brain, What exercise is for the body.
My changes to the Fortune Cookie: Writing is for the soul, what reading is for the brain, and what exercise is for the body.

Total words written today: 1,205 (just bypassed the 30,000 mark!!!)
Music Playing: Anouk
What I'm Drinking: Grande Hot Cinnamon Sunset Tea from Starbucks
My Current Mood: exhilarated
My Purchases for the Day: Jemima J by Jane Green (my old time fav) and two books on Art Journaling