NotSoSuperwoman's Homeschool, Reviews, and More

I'm Back! Sort of. But Not Here. ;)

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 20:52:00 +0000

I've imported this blog to my old one and moved over to www.NotSoSuperwoman.com.

Check out this post for more info!

Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore (LitFuse Blog Tour)

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 16:05:00 +0000

Summary: Once you've seen, you can't unsee. Everything changes when you've looked at the world through . . .Angel Eyes

Brielle went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She's come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and the incredible, numbing cold she can't seem to shake.

Jake's the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.

Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what's going to happen. And a beauty brighter than Jake or Brielle has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices start.
A realm that only angels and demons-and Brielle-can perceive.

My Thoughts: This debut offering from Shannon Dittemore is fantastic. The first book in a series, it immediately pulls you into Brielle's world with crisp writing and characters that feel authentic. My biggest complaint when I read a book or watch a movie is when the writer neglects to make me care for the characters. No matter how good a plot is, if I don't care I just...well, I don't care! I cared for these characters from the beginning, identifying with Brielle's pain even while remaining clueless (and curious!) as to the cause. The relationship between her and her dad was well done and the spark between her and Jake realistic.

The author's take on angels and demons was fresh without being unbiblical. This is Christian fiction, and it makes no bones about that, and yet it's not overly "preachy". I have always said that a good story is a good story and unless you're easily offended by anything of a spiritual nature, this story should appeal to most fans of "angel fiction" and the paranormal.

I'm a new fan of Shannon Dittmore's and am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series! Recommended.

Celebrate with Shannon (@ShanDitty) by entering her "Angel Eyes" Giveaway and connecting with her during the Author Chat Party on 6/26!

Find out what readers are saying here.

One "angelic" winner will receive:

A Brand New Nook Color
A copy of Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on June 25th. Winner will be announced at the "Angel Eyes" Author Chat Facebook Party on 6/26. Shannon will be hosting a book chat, testing your trivia skills and giving away some great prizes!

So grab your copy of Angel Eyes and join Shannon on the evening of the June 26th for a chance to meet Shannon and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 26th!

Storytelling Game: Fabula

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:14:00 +0000

I just posted a game review on the Geeks Playing Games site that I think some of you may also like! Fabula is a storytelling game where one person plays Grimm and the others are his characters doing what characters do best- helping to tell the story and taking it places the author may have never planned. It would be a great addition to your homeschool language arts as it encourages imagination and creativity. I'm posting a portion here to wet your appetite, but go check out the full review!

The object of this game is to use your imagination. One person plays Grimm and everyone else chooses a story character who will help him tell his tale. There are twelve characters to choose from and they are all beautifully represented by high quality cardboard figures. While the other players are choosing their characters, the player representing Grimm chooses a story card from the absolutely gorgeous offerings. There are ten oversized cards with different renderings on each side, providing twenty stories to choose from. These stories are found in the rule book. I suppose you could choose a story and then find the appropriate card, but we enjoyed choosing based on the art and going from there.

Once the characters and story are chosen, Grimm lays out item cards face up on the table (the number is dependent on how many are playing). He then reads the prologue of the story and shares where he needs chapter one to go (this is all given in the rule book). The characters must use an item card to progress the story in the manner that Grimm has prescribed. There are quill tokens that Grimm may award to the player if he is pleased with the story progression. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE...

Quaker Oatmeal Squares #Bzzagent

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:18:00 +0000

I've already shared that we're a cereal family, so it should come as no surprise that we were more than willing to try out Quaker Oatmeal Squares when offered via Bzz Agent! These crunchy squares are good when served in a bowl with milk but our favorite way to eat them is straight out of the box. The crunchy sweetness makes a great nutritious snack!

We shared a couple of the mini boxes with friends, who also enjoyed it as a snack, and heard the same thing- the crunch and the hint of sweetness satisfies that snack craving and is healthy at the same time. Give them a try for breakfast with milk but save a bit for later. Grab a book or settle down in front of a movie and snack away. Yum!

Go check out the Quaker Oatmeal Squares Facebook page and get your own FREE sample box! (While supplies last.)

That's Enough

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:35:00 +0000

I forgot my name yesterday.

Overtired, over stressed and overwhelmed, it was just a brain blank moment but I've been having too many of those lately and I'm afraid if it continues I really will forget who I am. Who I am has been drowned out by the whispers and shouts of who I'm not. I'm not good enough. I'm not smart enough. I'm not spiritual enough or pretty enough or graceful enough or tactful enough or friendly enough or serious enough or... I'm not enough.

Believe me, I know.

I sit in tears and wonder why God's placed me where I am when I'm so far from enough and all I want to do is run away, hide from the world in that Hobbit Hole with the well stocked larder and my books, and be alone with my not enoughness.

And then a song invades my heart. When I lose my way and I forget my name, remind me who I am... When I can't receive Your love, afraid I'll never be enough, remind me who I am. If I'm Your beloved, can You help me believe it? Tell me once again who I am to You, who I am to you. Tell me, lest I forget who I am to You, that I belong to You.

And the tears continue, but they turn to tears of wonder that somehow I am enough for Him. That I was enough for Him to love me and allow me to become His child through the ultimate sacrifice and the ultimate resurrection power. I am in awe. I don't understand it, I don't always feel it, but somewhere inside me I still know it. Through all my weakness and my failings and my doubt, I am His child.

And that's enough.

The Four Sentence Type Scenes (Mama Kat's Prompt)

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:56:00 +0000

5.) Who’d talk the most? Pretend three four sentence types–Declarative, Imperative, Interrogative, and Exclamatory–were people. Write an imaginary scene between them. (inspired by writingfix.com)

As soon as I read this prompt I knew I wanted to do this with my kids. Fun, creative, and yet a great lesson (or review for the older kids) on the types of sentences. This is a great prompt to share with all my fellow homeschoolers and we really enjoyed it! I kept it very low-key and low-pressure and we had a great time building silly stories with sentence types. Read on for the results!

Ryan: Has anyone seen my dog?

Nicole: No, but I want coffee.

Taylon: I want a dog!

Sam: Go find his dog. Now.

Ryan: Has anyone noticed we're talking about my DOG?

Taylon: Yes!

Nicole: I will help you find your dog.

Ryan: Do you think my dog is at Stop & Shop?

Sam: Go check.

Ryan: Are you sure?

Nicole: I can only find your dog if I get coffee.

Taylon: Let's have a party!

Ryan: Nicole, why do you need coffee?

Nicole: I love it.

Sam: Go get her coffee.

Ryan: Taylon, I thought we were trying to find my dog?

Taylon: I found your dog!

Nicole: Now I can have coffee.

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

Pera: Exla, go to the bathroom.
Excla: Okay!!

Exla exits.

Enters Terr and Decla.

Decla: I want coffee.
Terr: Do you want me to go get you coffee?
Decla: I love coffee.

Terr exits.

Enters Exla.

Exla: I was in the bathroom!!

Terr enters.

Terr: Who wanted coffee?
Decla: I wanted coffee.
Excla: Coffee! Coffee!! Coffee!!!
Decla: There is no coffee for you.
Terr: Did you want coffee?
Pera: Go get her some coffee.
Terr: Why?
Exla: I want coffee!!!!
Terr: Okay?

Terr exits.

The end.

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

Declarative: So today I saw the cutest guy at the mall.

Interrogative: Did you talk to him?

Declarative: Yeah, his voice was all deep and awesome.

Exclamatory: Oh My Fudgey Gouda! That is legendary!

Interrogative: I know, right?

Declarative: Yeah, he was crazy awesome.

Interrogative: What happened next?

Declarative: I walked away.

Exclamatory: I cannot believe you just walked away!

Declarative: But...he gave me his number.

Exclamatory: That is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Interrogative: Did you call him yet?

Exclamatory: You should call him!

Declarative: No, I haven't called him yet.

Interrogative: Why not?

Exclamatory: You should call him right now!

Interrogative: Yeah, why not call him now?

Declarative. I don't know. I'm just nervous.

Interrogative: So? If he's hot, why don't you call him?

Exclamatory: Yeah, he must be so hot!

Declarative: He is.

Imperative (the only guy in the room, subjected to this conversation): Shut up. Please for the love of Buddha, just shut up.

Interrogative: Are we annoying you?

Imperative: Just leave...now.

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

"I don't believe in fairies." Dec shook his head at Int, his expression revealing his disdain for the question. Int immediately clapped.

"He must believe in fairies. Make him believe." Imp whispered these words urgently into Int's ear but he merely brushed her away, as though an insect were annoying him.

"He doesn't believe in us!" Ex exclaimed, "We're real! We're right here! Open your eyes!"

"Stop shouting, Ex." Imp demanded. She waved her hand in front of Dec's face.

"Do you see that?" Int asked hopefully.

"I see nothing," Dec declared, "except you standing in front of me with a crazy face."

"Why am I the crazy one?" Int pouted.

"You believe in nonsense."

"Nonsense! He dares call us nonsense!" Ex jumped up, ran towards him as fast as she could, grabbed him by the ankles, and sunk her tiny teeth into his leg. Dec swatted her away and she landed with a thump by his left foot.

"Nasty bugs." Dec said.

"Will you never see? Will you never open your eyes?" Int seemed sad at the thought of living life without seeing fairies.

"You will believe in fairies." Imp spoke into Dec's ear now, her voice firm. "You will believe in us and you will listen to Int."

"Do you hear that?" Int asked, his eyes wide as he stared at Dec and then Imp and back again at Dec. "Do you hear the fairy?"

"I don't believe in fairies." Dec stated firmly and before Int could clap, Imp had fallen dead at Dec's feet.

"You killed her! You evil brute!" Ex threw herself over Imp's body, crying, while Int clapped furiously. It was no use.

"Why did you do that?" Int's shoulders dropped and he stared at Dec in despair, "why can't you simply believe?"

"I'm all grown up." Dec said, "I believe in bills and taxes and hard work. I believe in schedules and lists and serious discussions. I do not believe in fairies."

Int clapped, as Ex sighed with relief. Tears pricked at his eyes as he asked, "What kind of life is that?"

Stand By Me by Neta Jackson (FIRST Wild Card Tour)

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:55:00 +0000

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Neta Jackson

and the book:

Stand By Me

Thomas Nelson (March 13, 2012)

***Special thanks to Rick Roberson The B&B Media Group, for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

As a child growing up on the campus of a Christian school where her parents taught, Neta Jackson began creating imaginary worlds at a young age. Loving horses but not having one, she wrote stories about them instead. By the time she reached high school, she had so honed both imagination and writing skills that when her English teacher submitted one of her stories to a Scholastic magazine writing contest, it won first place. With that first win, Jackson knew beyond the shadow of a doubt she wanted to be a writer. She’s been writing ever since.

After marrying the love of her life, Dave Jackson, the couple chose to settle in the Chicago area where Neta had attended college. Throughout their marriage, the Jacksons have worked together as a team, writing a multitude of books together on topics ranging from medical ethics to stories of gang kids, sometimes sharing the task with other experts who have served as co-writers. Together, they have also penned forty historical fiction accounts of Christian heroes, called the Trailblazer Books, along with another five-volume series called Hero Tales: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Christian Heroes.

These days, both are busy penning their own works of adult fiction. Jackson began her individual effort in 2003 with the Yada Yada Prayer Group series, inspired by her real-life Bible study group, a multi-cultural gathering of dynamic women who have played an important role in her life for over fifteen years. Since publication of the first Yada Yada Prayer Group novel, the seven-book series has sold over a half-million copies and given rise to countless prayer groups across the country and the publication of a personal prayer journal for prayer group participants. In 2008, Where Do I Go?, her first book in the four-book House of Hope series, was published. The second book in the series, Who Do I Talk To?, won a Christy Award in 2010 for excellence in Christian fiction. Recently, the fourth book of the series, Who Is My Shelter?, was nominated for Best Inspirational Novel for 2011 by RT Book Reviews. Stand by Me is the first in Jackson’s new SouledOut Sisters series.

The Jacksons have been married 45 years and have raised two children plus a Cambodian foster daughter. They continue to live in urban Chicago where, together, they enjoy writing, gardening and spending time with their grandchildren.

Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

How does God expect us to get along with those people who are always causing us pain? Are we supposed to keep helping those who repeatedly take advantage of us? Exactly what is the key to living in peace with difficult people? These are the questions award-winning author Neta Jackson addresses in her latest novel, Stand by Me (Thomas Nelson), the first book of her newest series, SouledOut Sisters.

Inspired by her own Bible study group, Jackson began several years ago to write about a multi-cultural gathering of dynamic women in a collection of books known as the Yada Yada Prayer Group series. Since publication of the first Yada Yada Prayer Group novel in 2003, the seven-book series has sold over a half-million copies and given rise to countless prayer groups across the country. Jackson followed the Yada Yada novels with the four-book House of Hope series. Though the series is not dependent upon its predecessors for understanding, Jackson has used the individual lives of familiar characters to introduce some of the more complex issues prevalent in our modern society. By allowing her characters to lead the way, Jackson has shed light on issues like drug addiction, the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and even the racial conflicts that can so easily arise within any culturally diverse group.

In her newest work, Stand by Me, Jackson introduces her readers to Kathryn Davis, a young college student who has left her prestigious Phoenix family behind to move to Chicago after dropping out of medical school against her father’s protests. Her newfound faith in Christ helps temper the realization that she has stepped out of her family’s good graces, but does little to alleviate the pain of their rejection.

When Kat discovers the dynamic multi-cultural membership at Souled Out Community Church, she longs to be part of it. But her unconventional behavior and brash eagerness have not helped her win favor with the church members. And, much to her dismay, Avis Douglass, the one woman in the church whom she most admires and would love to know better, is the one who is the most aloof.

Kat has no idea that, after being confronted by a number of serious problems all at once, Avis and her husband, Peter, are beginning to question God’s will for their lives. Having been recently estranged from her HIV positive daughter and being worried about her welfare, Avis would like nothing more than to quietly retreat into the recesses of her faith and find the answers she seeks. Her attempts to do so, however, are thwarted at every turn by the flamboyant Kat, who has apparently decided to foist herself on their lives whether they want her to or not.

Product Details:
List Price: $15.99
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (March 13, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595548645
ISBN-13: 978-1595548641

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

PROLOGUE

Midwest Music Festival, Central Illinois

Kat Davies ducked into the billowing exhibition tent staked down in a large pasture in central Illinois like a grounded Goodyear blimp. She’d been at the Midwest Music Fest three days already—didn’t know it was a Christian festival until she got here—and needed a little respite from the music pulsing morning-till-night on the Jazz Stage, Gospel Stage, Alternative Stage, Rock Stage, Folk Stage, and a few more she’d forgotten.

Besides, she’d be heading back to Phoenix in two days, and sooner or later she needed to figure out how to tell her parents she’d “given her heart to Jesus” after the Resurrection Band concert last night. Maybe this tent had a quiet corner where she could think. Or pray. Not that she had a clue how to do that.

Kat had a good idea how they’d react. Her mother would f lutter and say something like, “Don’t take it too seriously, Kathryn dear. Getting religion is just something everyone does for a year or two.” And her father? If he didn’t blow his stack at what he’d call “another one of your little distractions,” he’d give her a lecture about keeping her priorities straight: Finish pre-med at the University of Arizona. Go to medical school. Do her internship at a prestigious hospital. Follow in the Davies’ tradition. Make her family tree of prominent physicians proud.

Except . . . she’d walked out of her biochemistry class at UA one day and realized she didn’t want to become a doctor. She’d tutored ESL kids the summer after high school and realized she liked working with kids. (“Well, you can be a pediatrician like your Uncle Bernard, darling,” her mother had said.) And the student action group on the UA campus sponsoring workshops on “Living Green” and “Sustainable Foods” had really gotten her blood pumping. (Another one of her “distractions,” accord- ing to her father.)

Was it too late to pursue something else? Her parents were already bragging to friends and co-workers that their Kathryn had received her letter of acceptance into medical school a few months ago. Feeling squeezed till she couldn’t breathe, she’d jumped at the chance to attend a music fest in Illinois with a carload of other students—friends of friends—just to get away from the pressure for a while.

What she hadn’t expected was to find so many teenagers and twenty-somethings excited about Jesus. Jesus! Not the go- to-church-at-Christmas-and-Easter Jesus, the only Jesus she’d known growing up the daughter of a wealthy Phoenix physician and socialite mother. That Jesus, frankly, had a hard time com- peting with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

But these people talked about a Jesus who cared about poor people. A Jesus who created the world and told humans to take care of it. A Jesus who might not be blond and blue-eyed after all. A Jesus who said, “Love your neighbor”—and that neighbor might be black or brown or speak Spanish or Chinese. A Jesus who said, “All have sinned” and “You must be born again.” The Son of God, who’d died to take away the sins of the world.

That Jesus.

That’s the Jesus she’d asked to be Lord of her life, even though she wasn’t exactly sure what that meant. But she desper- ately longed for something—Someone—to help her figure out who she was and what she should do with her life. The guitar player in the band who’d challenged the arm-waving music fans last night to be Christ-followers had said, “Jesus came to give you life—life more abundantly! But first you must give your life to Him.”

That’s what she wanted. Abundant life! A life sold out to something she could believe in. To give herself to one hundred percent. So she’d prayed the sinner’s prayer with a woman in a denim skirt whose name she never learned, and a “peace like a river” f looded her spirit.

Last night, anyway.

But by the light of day, she was still heading in a direction—medical school—that she didn’t want to go.

Big fans circulated the air in the large tent, though mostly it just moved the stif ling July heat around. Thick, curly strands of her long, dark hair had slipped out of the clip on the back of her head and stuck in wet tendrils on her skin. Redoing the clip to get the damp hair off her neck and face, she wan- dered the aisles, idly picking up brochures about Compassion International, Habitat for Humanity, and YWAM. Huh. What if she just dropped out of pre-med and did something like this Youth With A Mission thing. Far from Phoenix and the Davies Family Tradition. Go to Haiti or India or—

“Nice boots,” giggled a female voice nearby.

Kat glanced up from the brochure. A cute brunette with a shaggy pixie cut grinned at her from behind a booth that said Find Your Calling at CCU! Kat self-consciously looked down at the Arizona-chic cowboy boots peeking out beneath her designer jeans and f lushed. Ever since she’d arrived at the fes- tival, she felt as if she’d walked into a time-warp—girls in tank tops, peasant skirts, and pierced nostrils, guys wearing pony- tails, tattoos, shredded jeans, and T-shirts proclaiming Jesus Freak. Kat had felt as conspicuous as a mink coat in a second- hand store.

“Thanks. I think.”

The young woman, dressed in khaki Capris and a feminine lemon-yellow tee, laughed. “This your first time to the Fest? Where’re you from?”

Kat felt strangely relieved to be talking to someone else who didn’t look like a throwback to the seventies. “Phoenix. First time.”

“Wow. You came a long way.”

“You?”

“Detroit. But during the year I’m a student at CCU in Chicago. I get a huge discount off my festival fee if I sit at this booth a couple hours a day during the Fest.” The girl grinned again and extended her hand across the stacks of informational literature. “I’m Brygitta Walczak.”

Kat shook her hand. “Kathryn Davies. But my friends call me Kat. With a K.”

“Like ‘kitty kat’ ? That’s cute. And . . . blue eyes with all that dark, curly hair? Bet the guys love that.”

Ignoring the remark, Kat glanced up at the banner above the booth. “What does CCU stand for?”

“Chicago Crista University. Usually we just call it Crista U. Located on the west side of Chicago. I’ll be a senior next year. Christian ed major.”

“Christian ed? What’s that?”

“You’re kidding.” Brygitta eyed her curiously. “Mm. You’re not kidding. Uh, are you a Christian?”

Kat allowed a wry smile. “For about twelve hours.”

The pixie-haired girl’s mouth dropped open, and then her amber eyes lit up. “That is so cool! Hey . . . want a Coke or something? I’ve got a cooler back here with some soft drinks. Wanna sit? I’d love some company.”

Brygitta dragged a folding chair from an unmanned booth nearby, and Kat found herself swapping life stories with her new friend. Unlike Kat, who had no siblings, Brygitta came from a large Polish family, had been raised in the Catholic church, “went Protestant” at a Youth for Christ rally in high school, planned to get a master’s degree at Crista U, and wanted to be a missionary overseas or a director of Christian education somewhere.

“Sorry I’m late, Bree,” said a male voice. “Uh-oh. Two gor- geous females. You’ve cloned yourself. I’m really in trouble now.”

Kat looked up. A young man about their same age grinned at them across the booth. He was maybe six feet, with short, sandy-brown hair combed forward over a nicely tanned face, wire-rim sunglasses shading his eyes. No obvious tattoos or body piercings. Just cargo shorts and a T-shirt that said CCU Soccer.

Brygitta jumped up. “Oh, hi, Nick. This is Kat Davies. She’s from the University of Arizona, first time at the Fest. Nick Taylor is my relief. He’s a seminary student at Crista—well, headed that way, anyway.”

Nick slid off his shades and flashed a smile, hazel eyes teasing. “So, Miss Blue Eyes. Has Brygitta talked you into coming to CCU yet?”

Kat laughed and started to shake her head . . . and then stopped as her eyes caught the logo on the banner across the booth. Find Your Calling at CCU.

Transfer to Crista University? Why not?

Geeks Playing Games Site Coming Soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:58:00 +0000

Around here, Friday nights are for friends and gaming. It could be role playing games with the whole gang, or a round of Munchkin with only four of us, but it's always a good time. Awhile back, one of our friends approached me with the idea of starting a tabletop game review site. I loved the idea but was too busy to actually get it going. The interest never left though and a couple of months ago we began working on it behind the scenes. Geeks Playing Games will be launching next week, on April 2nd, and I'd love it if you would be a part!

Right now, we have our Facebook page, Twitter, and Pinterest up and running and waiting for you. If you're a geek who plays games, this is for you. If you're not so geeky but you want to play games, this is for you. If you're neither a geek nor a gamer but are intrigued by the idea of something beyond Monopoly and Candyland, this is for you. (If you're offended by anything containing magic or fantasy, this is not for you, unless you can skim past those without issue. But then again, if you've been around here long enough you already know my love for the fantasy genre and shouldn't be surprised to hear that carries over into gaming!)

I'm super excited to share another of my many passions and interests with you. Come check us out and feel free to let me know what you'd like to see in the future. And spread the word!

Pillsbury Bake Off Recipes & $25 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:35:00 +0000

The Recipe: I was asked by MyBlogSpark to try one of the Pillsbury Bake-off entry recipes and then share with you (and they were generous enough to send a $25 Walmart card with which to buy ingredients). Dinner is always a struggle, the family tends to want to eat it every night and I tend to not want to cook it most nights. GRIN. So my search was for something that sounded delicious and yet easy to prepare and the Chicken Cacciatore Cheese Bread Sandwich sounded like it would be a good fit.

Unfortunately, it's been a tough week and we had cereal for dinner rather than the yumminess, so I'll have to report on the recipe later. I didn't want to wait to post the giveaway though, so go check out the recipes for yourself and let me know if you give any a try!

The Scoop: Looking to spice up your weekly dinners or sweeten your next family gathering with an extra special dessert? Bake-Off.com now has 100 new recipe creations from Pillsbury Bake-Off finalists from across the country. Whether you are in the mood for Breakfast & Brunches, Entertaining Appetizers, Dinner Made Easy™, or Sweet Treats, Bake-Off.com has tons of new ideas that are simple to make and sure to wow your loved ones.

Head to your local Walmart where you can find great savings on refrigerated Pillsbury products including: Pillsbury Original Crescent Rolls, Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls, Pillsbury Pie Crust, and Pillsbury Cookies among other items.

Don’t forget to check everydaysaver.com/Walmart before you head to your nearest Walmart to find additional coupons and offers.

Having trouble deciding which of these mouthwatering recipes to make first? Here are just a few of the delicious ones available on BakeOff.com:

Chocolate and Caramel-Cinnamon Roll Skewers - Do cinnamon rolls one better. Skewer them and drizzle with caramel, chocolate and icing for a most indulgent treat.
Marmalade-Glazed Asian Meatball Cups - Meet a saucy new meatball that's baked on top of flaky crescent dough. With just 6 ingredients, they're super easy.
Mango Salsa Appetizer Bites - Party time! Two-bite pie crust appetizers are loaded with a fiesta of flavors.
Hazelnut-French Silk Turtle Pie - Oh my, turtle pie! A rich flaky pie crust holds a creamy filling with chocolate and caramel.
Caramelized Peach Upside-Down Coffee Cake - Bake up a new sweet peachy coffee cake delight using Pillsbury® sugar cookie dough.

The Giveaway: Would you like to win a $25 Walmart Gift Card?
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Disclosure: The gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by Walmart and General Mills, through MyBlogSpark.

American History Song Parodies

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:20:00 +0000

A friend shared one of these videos on Facebook today and I was impressed at the quality and the ability to use music and video to supplement history. These would be great additions to spark discussion of these topics, as well as a wonderful impetus for creating your own historical song parody and video! There are so many ways you could use these to inspire your students, I had to share! Be sure to click the links to their home pages for lyrics and links to more info on the topic at hand.

Too Late to Apologize: A Declaration Lyrics and mp3.

Bad Romance: Women's Suffrage links, lyrics and mp3.

More Beauty, Less Beast by Debora Coty (Litfuse Blog Tour)

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:34:00 +0000

About the book: With her own offbeat brand of wit and near-wisdom, inspirational humorist Debora Coty addresses heart needs of women struggling to tame that out-of-control inner beast that unexpectedly pounces, roaring and shredding, as it threatens to destroy the divinely beautiful princess hidden within. In More Beauty, Less Beast, women will find simple, practical techniques for embracing the true beauty rightfully theirs as cherished daughters of the King. Whether jaded by emotional wounds, unrealistic standards, or lack of confidence, this laugh-out-loud, girlfriend-to-girlfriend encouragement will help women transform their destructive inner beast into the exquisite beauty they were always meant to be.

About Debora Coty: Debora Coty is an occupational therapist, a piano teacher, and a freelance writer. She's also involved in the children's ministry at her church and is an avid tennis player. Debora began writing to fill the void when her last child left for college, and it has since become a passion. Debora has a real knack for getting across sound biblical concepts with a refreshing lightheartedness as attested in her monthly newspaper column entitled "Grace Notes: God's Grace for Everyday Living." Visit www.deboracoty.com for more about Debora and her book.

My Thoughts: I've decided to limit my non-fiction reviews (I'm just a story girl, I admit.) but when this title came through, I couldn't resist. More Beauty? Less Beast? Transform your inner ogre? Yes, please. I need me some transforming. And quick.

I love humor and was looking forward to a light hearted look at a deep subject. Unfortunately, my sense of humor tends toward the sharp, the sarcastic, and the dry. This was more of the Erma Bombeck style and it just wasn't a good fit. The first section seemed as though the Biblical content was forced and tacked on at the end. I would have put the book down then, if I hadn't promised a review.

It improved greatly around chapter 8. The humor was toned down a bit and it seemed more natural. There were moments I found encouraging and with which I could relate, but it didn't quite live up to its potential. However, I know there are women who will enjoy this book (in fact, I just passed my copy to a friend who may like it), so if you enjoy this kind of humor and are looking for an easy "self-help" kind of read, go ahead and give it a try. Either way, head on over and enter the giveaway! Oh, and be sure to see what others thought HERE!

The Giveaway: Transform Your Inner Ogre with a $150 Visa Cash Card from @DeboraCoty! Using Biblical advice and her trademark humor, Debora Coty urges women to conquer guilt and re-institute hope in More Beauty, Less Beast. Celebrate with Debora by entering to win a $150 Visa Cash Card!

One "beautiful" winner will receive:

A $150 Visa Cash Card (Treat yourself to a spa day or weekend get-away!)

A Debora Coty Library (More Beauty, Less Beast, Too Blessed Too Be Stressed and Everyday Hope)

Chocolate (Every good things begins with chocolate!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 3/22/12. Winner will be announced at Debora's "Divine Beauty" Facebook Party on 3/22. Debora will be hosting an evening of chat, fun beauty trivia, laughter, and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club and a live chat with Debora via Skype.)

(Blogger is being cranky and won't post the icons no matter what I try! Go ahead and click the Giveaway link above to find them all nice and shiny, like they're supposed to be here. Thanks!)

So grab your copy of More Beauty, Less Beast and join Debora and friends on the evening of March 22nd for an evening of fun.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 22nd!

Silence (Mama Kat's Prompt)

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:12:00 +0000

Mama Kat's Writing Prompt: Incorporate the following line into a poem of your own: “Catching air with my fingers” (inspired by Buttered Toast Rocks http://butteredtoastrocks.blogspot.com/2012/03/sweaty-hands-queasy-stomach.html) My bad poetry, as promised. I read the prompt on Tuesday and this came out. I tend to write the sadder stuff in poetic form. Analyze that.

You'd think there'd be tears,
there are usually tears,
rather than dry, hollow sockets
where my eyes used to be.
And I wonder how I see.

I thought there'd be answers,
a peace in my soul,
rather than cold, heavy silence
when my heart strains to hear.
And I lose myself to fear.

Reaching, seeking, hoping you are there...
But I'm only catching air with my fingers.

Personal Update Where I Feel Bad About Not Blogging (Again), Share Something Cool That's Upcoming, and Ask For A Kick in the Rear.

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:44:00 +0000

Warning: This is a personal update for those interested. Nothing scintillating, encouraging, or humorous is contained within. Merely me, talking to you. Read on if you like, but I warn you to come with no expectations.

If you look over at my post numbers for 2012, they're slim picking. Between illness, leaving the review crew, and working on a second site behind the scenes, my blogging mojo has been MIA. I'm feeling boxed in with the "homeschool, reviews, and more" and need to ignore all the experts advice to focus and recreate this blog as a place for me to reflect and ramble about whatever I happen to be reflecting and rambling about at the time. Oh, and review. Because although I am a little burnt out and need a short break, I do enjoy reviewing. So my plan is to return to my roots and just be NotSoSuperwoman. I'm trying to figure out how to change my url without losing you all, but I haven't managed that yet.

My problem right now is that I can't afford to have my handy dandy blog designer redo it for me, so I may give it a go on my own. I own the graphic, so I'm thinking I'll try to revamp it. I'm feeling like I need it fresh before I can regain my love of blogging and I just can't wait for the money to do that! I am woman, watch me redesign my site! No worries, I own the graphic, it won't change too much.

So what about that second site I mentioned? Glad you asked. I'm only slightly excited about it. Snort.

Geeks Playing Games will be coming April 1st. A friend and I are starting a news and reviews site for tabletop gaming. Board games, card games, RPGs- we'll be playing them and then sharing what we love and what we don't and hopefully helping you all find new games to play with your friends and families! I admit, a lot of my blogging time has been spent on setting up this site, but once we're up and running it should be a great compliment to this blog. And I'd love it if you all would check it out when the time comes.

After blogging for so many years, I guess I just need a little break, a time to recharge and hopefully renew that spark that started me blogging in the first place. I've been in this funk for too long and need a kick in the rear. If any of you have any suggestions, ideas for posts, questions for me that may spark a post, anything to help motivate me to really blog again- I'm all ears. Or eyes, whatever. Type away at me in the comment section. Otherwise I will write bad poetry. I already have one ready and waiting for Mama Kat's prompt on Thursday. You've been warned.

When Homeschool Becomes Boring

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:14:00 +0000

"Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick." -Tolkein

March. That time of year when I suddenly despise our homeschool curriculum and look forward to September, when everything's fresh and new. If I'm honest, there's nothing wrong with most of what we're doing. I'm just bored. This tends to happen. Every. Stinkin'. Year. Something Tookish wakes up inside me and I become restless.

So what's a girl to do? What I frequently do when I need more adventure; pick up a book.

While I love Diana Waring's history, I've found that we can only listen to so much a day (it's based on audio lessons) and so our read aloud time just never happens. This week we have decided to take a history break so I may read aloud to everyone. Our choice? The Hobbit.

The kids gather in the living room and get comfortable (yes, even the teenagers) and I read. The Hobbit is perfectly suited as a read aloud. The words flow nicely and feel good on the tongue. The adventure keeps everyone interested and we lose ourselves for a time. When we emerge from our story, I somehow feel as though both sides of my Bilbo personality have been appeased- I am comfy in my home and yet heading out to slay a dragon. Ah, the power of story.

Do you find yourself succumbing to the "winter blues"? What do you do in the "winter of your discontent"?

MyBlogSpark Giveaway: Big G Cereal, Target Gift Card, Atari Classic Games

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:56:00 +0000

****Our winner never responded, so a new winner has been drawn and it is Mari! Please email me (NotSoSuperwoman@gmail.com) with your mailing information within the next 48 hours to claim your prize. Congratulations!

This drawing is now closed.****

When I was first married, I wanted to be the perfect wife (yeah, even then I struggled with the wannabe perfection thing!) and so I would wake up in the morning and make a nice breakfast for my new husband. I quickly discovered that he is not a big breakfast person. He prefers a bowl of cereal and milk every morning and he's happy. There were a few wives in college who would look down their noses at me for not sending my student husband out the door with a hot breakfast, but I just laughed. Hey, apparently we're the perfect couple. I'm not fond of cooking (or getting up in the morning!) and he'd much rather have a bowl of cereal than a hot meal!

This cereal nostalgia was brought home to me when MyBlogSpark offered to send us a Prize Pack containing two boxes of General Mills cereal sporting their retro look, a free download for Atari's Classic Games, and a $10 Target gift card. I was all over that and even more excited to be able to offer a Prize Pack to one of you!

Here's the scoop: "Collect all 5 different packages that include totally radical Atari Activities on the back of each box; available exclusively at Target starting February through mid-March Participating Big G cereals include:

Cinnamon Toast Crunch® (17 oz.), Lucky Charms® (16 oz.), Honey Nut Cheerios® (17 oz.), Cheerios® (18 oz.) and Cocoa Puffs® (16.5 oz.) Did we mention it was Atari’s 40th Anniversary this year? Be sure to check out GrocerySavvy.com and test your online Atari gaming skills at Asteroids while also entering in a sweepstakes for chance to win Target gift cards and Atari merchandise Let Big G cereals, Target and Atari make your breakfast tubular and something the entire family will enjoy! www.GrocerySavvy.com"

ENTER TO WIN!

Prize Pack:

(2) boxes of participating Big G cereals
$10 Target gift card
A free download for “Atari 80 Classic Games In 1”

TO ENTER:

1. Leave a comment on this blog post (required).

2. Share this giveaway via Twitter (optional, leave additional comment with Twitter name)

3. Share this giveaway via Facebook (optional, leave additional comment letting me know )

4. Follow/subscribe to this blog, Twitter, and/or Facebook (optional, leave additional comment for each one,- if you already follow, leave 2 additional comments)

5. Place my button on your blog (optional, leave 2 additional comments letting me know.)

Drawing ends Thursday, March 8th.

*Disclosure: The prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills, Atari and Target through MyBlogSpark.

Just People

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:10:00 +0000

"I feel kind of like a lesbian at a Southern Baptist Convention.", I whispered to my husband.

"Huh?" He raised his eyebrows and waited for me to explain. The expression on his face was one I see quite often. Yeah, I think you're cute. Crazy, and I have no idea what you're talking about half the time, but cute.

We were in the middle of a weekend away with friends at a steampunk/gaming convention. It was a great time, with lots of laughter and fun, and yet I felt that all too common social anxiety eating at me. There we were, fully costumed and enjoying every second, but I couldn't help but wonder what the other attendees would think if they knew. Would they still be friendly and accepting if I "came out of the closet" or would they immediately slap the stereotype on me, eyes narrowing and mouth stuttering as they hurried along to distance themselves from the "preacher's wife"? Was this what some of the other attendees would feel like in a crowd of Christians? Would they be afraid to share their lives, for fear of condemnation?

Say it ain't so.

A friend and fellow teen leader is teaching a series to the youth right now entitled "Reflections". It's all about taking off your masks and being real. After the first lesson, one of the teens said, "He hit the nail on the head. Hard." And yeah, he did. I'm 41 years old (Did I just admit that? I'm fighting it every step of the way, it's true.) and I struggle with this daily. I don't fit in the box and I don't want to fit in the box, but sometimes it's scary to be exactly who I am; the crazy, silly, mixed up, emotional, opinionated, loving, cynical, struggling, goofy, sarcastic, manic, freaky me. I want to stay in the closet, keep on the mask, and only show pieces of me to pieces of you. But the rest of me ends up peeking out and ruining everything. And I have this fantasy of living in a world where we can love each other first, where we can see each other as people rather than labels, and where we don't have to fear the pain of rejection- no matter who we are.

I know, I have a bit of the idealist in me. But as a Christian, I can't help but continually return to the two greatest commandments- love God and love each other. I'm not saying we should accept everything a person does, there is right and wrong and I know this, but I want to live in a world where we can accept each other for who we are and go from there. No pre-judgements, no labels, no stereotypes. Just people.

I'm a steampunk, preacher's wife, geek, homeschooler, bibliophile, vampire mythos lover, gamer, writer, mother, friend, partner in crime, goofball, Bible study leader, fan girl, coffee addict, cat lover and so much more. I don't want to be a label. I want to be me. And I want to know you. Just people.

Ristorante Pizza: "Gourmet" Convenience

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:32:00 +0000

Frozen pizza. It's not a staple in our diet but every once in awhile it's nice and convenient. When we were given the chance to sample Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza, we were more than happy to give it a try.

There are eight types to choose from; Spinaci (spinach, mozzarella and a garlic sauce), Mozzarella (mozzarella, edam, and tomatoes), Funghi (mushroom, tomatoes, and cheese), Speciale (pepperoni, ham, edam, and mozzarella), Quattro Formaggi (mozzarella, edam, emmental and blue cheese), and Vegetale (tomatoes, peppers, onions and chilies). We chose the Quattro Formaggi and the Speciale and were pleasantly surprised at the crispness of the crust and the tangy flavors of the cheeses. This was not the average frozen pizza taste and we enjoyed it quite a bit! Our biggest complaint was that the pizzas seemed smaller than most, which I guess is a good sign that we wanted more.

Due to their "gourmet" toppings, these pizzas would make for an easy and delicious appetizer (maybe cut them in squares). Or you could add a salad and have a nice luncheon with friends. Sometimes it's good to spend more time visiting than preparing for the visit. Convenience foods can help. What are some ways you make it easy when entertaining?

*Disclosure: I received coupons for two pizzas through BzzAgent, in exchange for sharing my opinion. A positive review was not required.

Love: Keeping a Record of Rights

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:54:00 +0000

Most Friday mornings find me laughing and sharing with my women's Bible study group. I love these women and the discussions we manage to have in between the laughter. Last week, right at the end, one of these wonderful women said something so simple and yet so profound, I asked her if I could share it here. She graciously agreed and later sent me an email, stating that she need not be credited and reiterating what she had shared.

The discussion had meandered into talking about the way we view the people around us. Some see the positive in everyone and take everything at face value, some are a bit more cynical and try to read between the lines, waiting for the other shoe to drop or assuming negative intentions where there may not be any. Some are somewhere in between. Into this conversation, Leslie dropped a gem that made everyone stop and think for a moment.

"I keep a record of rights.", she said.

A record of rights?

She went on to explain that I Corinthians says not to keep a record of wrongs. That would imply that we are to keep a record of rights. She asked us to imagine a computer monitor. When she looks at someone, she see their face on the screen and next to it, bullet points of what she knows of this person. There are only so many bullet points on the main screen. She chooses to make these the "record of rights", the positives about that person.

Simple. Yet profound.

She continues in her email:

"All I did was take the negative charge in God’s word and change it to a positive because, for me, it more easily defines obedience. I can ‘not do’ something, but since the emotions that we need to watch out for are so rarely neutral, it’s helpful for me to have the ‘do’ in mind. I found this to be valuable when it comes to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy (delights in others successes), it does not boast (sings others praises), it is not proud (demonstrates humility and thankfulness). It does not dishonor others (values and shows respect) and it is not self-seeking (putting others before self), it is not easily angered (forbearing and forgiving) it keeps no record of wrongs (instead keeps a record of rights). Love does not delight in evil (cultivating enjoyment and satisfaction in what is good and right) but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

I tend to be the cynical sort. Life hurts. People hurt. And this kind of love is a rare thing. Yet, I believe with all that I am that if we could just get the greatest commandment right, to love God and love each other, everything else would fall into place. Maybe this can be the start.

Time to keep a record of rights. Who's with me?

Homeschoolers: How To Manage Mondays

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:35:00 +0000

I've made a grand discovery! Monday is a great day for projects.

Like Garfield, I hate Mondays. But because I'd like to finish History Revealed a little earlier in the year, so we can end with a few unit studies, I declared today project day rather than giving them a week to complete one. They had to choose one that could be completed in one day (for the most part. The girls chose an embroidery project but will complete it on their own time). My 14 and 10 year old boys chose the cooking project. Of course. They like to eat.

They made lefse. Or our version of lefse, as we have never even heard of it so we had no idea what it should look like. The kitchen looks like it snowed flour and the smoke alarm still hasn't stopped its ringing, but they had a great time and made some pretty tasty food.

And Monday feels a little less like Monday.

Into the Sea (A Red Writing Hood Prompt)

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:04:00 +0000

The Prompt: “The cure for anything is salt water….sweat, tears or the sea.”
~ Isak Dinesen, pseudonym of Baroness Karen von Blixen-Finecke

For your Creative Non-Fiction tell us about the last time that one of these three things “cured” you. If you are going with Fiction, have your character resolve a problem using one of the three (or all three!!!). There are so many ways you can use this prompt so be creative with it, don’t take us where we think you’ll go. Word Limit is 300.

(This was written on Thursday and then never posted on Friday as I ran out of time. I figured it was written, may as well post it even if I missed linking up!)

******

"I think it should float all right. At least long enough." Critos kicked at the raft with the toe of his boot, mumbling something I couldn't quite make out, avoiding my eyes.

"You got the ropes tight enough?" I placed a hand on Karina's shoulder as I spoke. She jumped and turned toward me.

"Yeah, should be good." She stared at me for a minute, started to speak, but turned away and walked over to stand next to Critos. She seemed solid enough, but I wasn't in a trusting mood. They'd both have to be watched closely.

I double checked the raft and the ropes. They seemed sufficient.

"Ready?" They nodded and we walked over to the small pile of items near the raft. Karina reached down and picked up a tattered blanket, the pink roses faded and stained with tears. Critos grabbed the large leather belt, holding the metal buckle well away from him, as if it were the head of a snake about to strike. They looked at each other, at me, and then tossed them onto the raft, onto the body they had tied so carefully.

I stared down at the bloodied ropes by my feet. These could have been used for the raft but I needed this ceremony. I needed to rid myself of his terror. The feeling of remorse caught me by surprise. Why should I bear guilt for ridding the world of a monster? I choked down the bile, picked up the rope, and flung it onto the raft. It was time.

Without a word, we pushed it further into the sea and prayed to the gods that they would receive him and swallow him whole.

A fitting end for a man called Norse. A man I called Father.

When Coffee Attacks...

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

(Shared this as a Facebook comment and thought I'd share here as well.)

We now have a Wal-Mart curse. My coffee committed suicide on Dec. 2nd in Wal-Mart, forever staining my jeans. The next time we were driving to Wal-Mart, my coffee in the cup holder of the van leaped from its resting place, jumped between my legs, and dumped itself on the floor while I was driving. Thankfully it was kind enough not to splatter me, just the van. We went to Wal-Mart a third time and my coffee once again flung itself onto the floor in the frozen food section. We haven't attempted a Wal-Mart trip since.

Feedback Needed: Which NaNoWriMo Book to Edit?

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:38:00 +0000

One thing I know I want to do in 2012 is finally work on one of my National Novel Writing Month first drafts and turn it into a completed story. My plan was to start the first week of January, all bright and cheery and excited, but my plans were derailed by sickness. Now that I'm crawling back into the land of the living, I'm anxious to get into a story and slowly work through the rewrite process. I only have two obstacles to overcome first.

Issue number one- my office is a mess. It looks like Christmas threw up in there. Seriously. The rest of the house is de-Christmasfied, and has been since December 26th, but I haven't yet faced the office. Today is the day.

The other problem is where I need your help. I have five very rough drafts to choose from and I find myself waffling between four. Which one do I dig into first? I have a love/hate relationship with all of them. I thought maybe I'd throw it out here and see if I get any feedback. I'm breaking all the blogging rules in asking you for help rather than providing content to help you but I NEED YOU MAN! (or woman.) I may not run with your choice but I'd love to have some input to chew on anyway!

The NotSoFantastic Four:

1. My very first NaNo I referred to as the "Christian Desperate Housewives". The story revolved around neighbors and friend's struggling with lust, betrayal, jealousy, teenage suicide-the works. The characters were quirky and fun though and I'll have to dial down the melodrama in the rewrite. You can catch a glimpse of these characters in one of my Write on Edge prompts; Double D's This one is faith-based but not overly sanitized.

2. My "stalker novel" has always been a favorite of mine. It's a YA story centered around a teenage girl whose mother has been fighting cancer and has become obsessed with her health to the point of completely shutting out her daughter. Her father is losing his business and is having difficulty coping. While her parents love her, they have no idea how to connect with her and she is starving for attention. She wakes up one morning with a broken window and "I See You" scrawled across her bedroom wall. Suddenly she's the center of attention, but is this what she really wants? There's a section of this story posted on my old blog here; Some Call It Stalking (Reading it over, I already see areas I need to change!) This one has some faith based elements.

3. I would have to do a complete rewrite of this one, as I hate everything about it, but I still love the idea. It takes place in the future, in a world where religion as a whole has been outlawed. The main characters are sent on a journey to discover old writings, receiving messages via their tablets. Through their adventure, the Christmas story is told and short "devotions" would be included after each chapter. The idea is to create a dystopian advent novel for teens and adults. I still love the idea, but this one would need more planning. This one is completely faith based and overtly Christian.

4. The last one is my most recent NaNo. It's a contemporary story of a woman who's recently come into money and takes the opportunity to write her life story. She uses three different genres to fictionalize the tragedies and difficulties in her life (fantasy, romance, and thriller). With each section, she attempts to find a happy ending but this proves difficult. Woven into the three stories is her current story. I need to figure out how to describe this more clearly but it was fun as a NaNo novel. There's a short excerpt here, from the fantasy section: Once Upon A Happily Never After. This one is not faith based.

I know I'm asking a lot but I'd really love to hear your thoughts! Please remember the excerpts are raw rough drafts (I'm so insecure!) but should give a hint at the tone of each story. I've also been flirting with the idea of starting from scratch with something else, but I have these 50,000-75,000 word drafts to work with already so why not?

Corridor by Robin Parrish

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:43:00 +0000

Summary:

THE ONLY WAY OUT IS TO RUN.

On the eve of his seventeenth birthday, Troy Goggin finds himself inexplicably transported to an impossibly huge, miles-long structure called the Corridor. But what is the Corridor, and why was he brought to it?

It’s a place of mystery, wonder, and heart-stopping danger. It will test him and push him both mentally and physically. His only companion is the girl whose voice he hears inside his head, explaining the rules he must follow if he hopes to escape.

But there is much more to this extraordinary place than Troy could ever imagine. The Corridor’s true purpose — the biggest mystery of all — is revealed only to those who make it to the end.

My Thoughts: Back in 2009, I stumbled across an author named Robin Parrish and his book, Offworld. It was one of my favorites that year, as it grabbed me from page one and led me on an adventure I could see on the big screen of my imagination. When I discovered he had recently published a YA novel, I was pretty excited to read it. It did not disappoint.

Parrish's writing style throws you in the middle of the action and allows you to live the experience with the main character. He never lets up and you find yourself on this wild journey through the Corridor, with no idea what is really going on, but completely caught up in the story. I was afraid the ending would be anti-climatic with all the mystery surrounding the Corridor but that wasn't the case. Parrish throws us into the story, runs with it, and then provides a satisfying conclusion.

Corridor is available as an e-book from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It is only $2.99 at the time of this writing, so if it sounds intriguing I'd recommend picking it up while the price is so good!

*Disclosure: I received a copy of the e-book at no cost from the author, for review purposes. A positive review was not required, merely an honest one. And that's what you have. :)

Ramblings of Bugs and Reading Challenges and Fictiony Fiction and Sci-Fi School and Ramblings

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:27:00 +0000

2012 continues to kick my butt. So far, January has been the month of bugs and I'm not talking spiders. I guess that's something for which to be thankful, but I can't just step on this kind of bug. I've been sick. Again. All. Week. And I'm still not feeling well. So yeah, since I didn't want to come whine on my blog (isn't that what Facebook is for anyway? GRIN.) it has continued to be quiet around here.

I thought I'd come think aloud for a minute. This won't be an award winning post by any means but some enjoy the ramblings too. This one's just for you.

It's January and so it's time to assess last year's reading challenges and think about new ones. I did manage to complete some from last year but the 52 books in 52 weeks thing remains just out of my grasp. It gets closer every year so I'm setting the same goal for 2012. This time I'm going to keep track of it via goodreads. There's even a neat little widget I can add to the sidebar to track my progress. I'm sure I'm the only one who will care but hey, I like neat little widgets. And I'm one of those weird people who check out my friend's widgets. (Snort.)

Speaking of friends, whenever I get friend requests on goodreads I wonder what they will think of my preference for sci-fi and fantasy. Lately I've been enjoying the urban fantasy and paranormal. I like my fiction really fictiony. I don't want reality, I want imagination. At least, for the moment.

Fiction makes me think of writing and how I haven't managed to do any yet. I hate you Bug. But oh yeah, there's the no whining thing I'm trying to follow. I am blessed, I know this. I'd just like life to follow my plan once in awhile. Ha.

Ooo, plans reminds me of school and discussing my 16 year old's plans for senior year (next year!). We need to sit down and see what he still needs for credits, but he'd like to fit them to his interests and really enjoy his last year. We're thinking of trying Live and Learn Press' Star Wars: The Hero Myth course outline (I own it, looks great!) and possibly Literary Lessons from The Lord of the Rings. I'm also playing around with the idea of a "The Science of Science Fiction" course, if I can pull it off. I'm not the sciency type so I'll need good resources. I remember my senior year was full of writing and literature classes and am looking forward to helping him design his year. Sad to think it's his last year though. Crazy. Crazy I say.

I remember my early days of blogging and writing rambly nonsensical posts such as this and connecting with other rambly nonsensical bloggers and creating connections and friendships. That sounds appealing right now. No more worrying about numbers or deadlines (for the most part), just writing for the sole purpose of expression and connection. Could be that I'm moving back into the Reflections and Ramblings of... Hmm.

Toydle: Fort Fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:02:00 +0000

Pictures say a thousand words, don't they? I could tell you how awesome the toydle Forts are, I could share how my youngest squealed with delight when I told him there were no instructions, just create. I could explain how great it was to see all my kids building this fort together. (Well, the ones who aren't grown and moved out anyway. Although I bet my adult children would have just as much fun- if not more.) I could describe how sturdy and well designed all the pieces are and how they come in their very own duffel bag for storage. But really, the photos tell you everything. The excitement in my daughter's eyes as she realized just how big this thing could be... my sons in deep thought as they consider the best formation... the leopard print flannel sheets you just wish you owned*... Yep. This is a super cool fort and any family would have a great time with one.

So where do you get your hands on one of these fine forts? Toydle. They're serious about their toys and they're serious about their quality. They are manufactured in the US and are backed by a guarantee. Our bag was short a couple of clips and their customer service was great; friendly and quick to ship the clips.

Here are the basics, straight from their site:

All Toydle Forts are constructed with

Hand made wooden blocks 3” sq. made with high quality, laminated poplar.
High Quality PVC tubes 29” long & 1/2in wide.

All Toydle Forts include an industrial strength storage bag.
All Toydle Forts include clips to help secure your sheets and blankets.

There are two fort sizes; The Toydle Fort (available for $149) and The BIG Toydle Fort (priced at $229.99). The first is over 45 square feet and the big one is double the size. The one pictured is the big one. And it's awesome.

This is one toy that may seem pricey at first, but should provide years of fun for all your kids. Highly recommended!!

*You provide the sheets and blankets, which helps make it your own.

*Disclosure: This product was provided at no cost for review purposes. A positive review was not required, merely an honest one. This thing just rocks. ;) *