Write, submit, repeat...

Well, hello there! How are things for you on this last day of November?? Can you believe that this time tomorrow, IT'S DECEMBER!!!! That's crazy town!! (Note to self: dig out #elfontheshelf)

Actually, it doesn't have to be December to be crazy town in my world... it already is all the time!! As in totes cray-cray. Now that I'm doing a lot more hours for World Travellers (you better still be reading those travel blogs, people!!), I seriously have no idea where the time goes. No one can ever fully understand how looking after a little person can suck the time (and sometimes the life!!) out of you until you have one to call your own... it's frecken exhausting being a mama. Particularly one that still breastfeeds. Four hours feels like a full night... I SHIT YOU NOT!!!! 

But, but, but... motherhood in all its glory (and there ARE good bits, like you know, the actual child - TOTALLY ADORBS!!!!) is not what I'm here to discuss today. I'm here to tell you that I've decided to get back onto the writing band wagon and try to get my first book published again. Or I'm going to publish the damned thing myself. I hate to think of all that blood, sweat and tears wasted... or more importantly, Elle, Daniel and J.T never seeing the light of day. I loved writing it, so surely someone else will love reading it too. Surely. Surely. Ok, so maybe it doesn't work that way but goddamit - I WANT MY FRECKEN BOOK PUBLISHED!!!!! 

Sooooo.... 

I've started sending it off to agents again. And am getting the 'no's' again. But I just keep repeating to myself that my writing is 'smart, snappy and fun to read' (that's what Danielle Chiotti told me and she totes knows her stuff). That's right - smart, snappy and fun to read! We need more of that in the world, and less of 'I'm going to slit my wrists 'cause that story was so frecken sad' (I'm looking at you, Jodi Picoult). I just can't read that stuff anymore... reading is too real for me, and I can't shake it off for days, weeks, aggeessss. I get into a fug and it sucks. So I don't do it anymore. I read light hearted and funny and happy ending. There's the occasional strife, a little, a tad, nothing major... but the end is good. And that's what I want. Happy. Lovely. Fuzzy-like. Something that's smart, snappy and fun to read. Fiona Walker and Sarra Manning, you do this for me. I love your work. Your stuff probs won't win no Booker prize, but it wins my Booker prize. And that's what I want to do; I want to be someone's booker prize. So, I'm just gonna do it.

Or maybe, Choc Lit will do it for me as I submitted my story to them... and choc-late has always come through for me before, so I don'y see why not this time. :)  

And for your personal enjoyment today, here's my back cover... 

Smart, snappy and fun to read. 
Write, submit, repeat. 

BBxx

Just like in every little girl’s dream, Elle Jones has been swept off her feet by a rich and handsome prince. Now if only his damned wedding ring would stop snagging on the corner of her ‘happily ever after’!

Elle has a very simple plan - open her dream shoe store and take London by storm. Her plan however does not include a chance meeting with soccer superstar and living god, Daniel Blake, that turns her world upside down. Not that anyone can really blame her; it isn’t everyday an ordinary girl gets to claim ‘People's Sexiest Man Alive’ for two years running as her own. Well, almost all her own since theoretically she’s sharing him with his wife.

Even after several near misses with the paparazzi, a few unexpected meetings with her lover’s wife, concerned friends trying to set her up, and the exhaustive planning for the launch of her new store, Elle is sure she has it all under control. Until a few too many drinks and a bad decision gets her arrested - in nothing other than some highly inappropriate underwear and ridiculously high heels - and the front page of every major newspaper.    

Now Elle has to decide if ‘almost all’ will ever be enough. 

It's the ordinary things...

So, yesterday afternoon, I left Mini Mr with his dad and took off to go to THE MOVIES!!

Yes. The actual movies. And it was glorious. 

There wasn't really that much on... I tried to get into 'Maleficent' (!!) as it was the first movie showing when I walked in but lucked out. So I opted for whatever was showing next...and it happened to be SEX TAPE! I agree, neither of these were mind-blowing choices. SEX TAPE got absolutely panned on Rotten Tomatoes, even with the audience score which does tend to be more lenient. And I can't stand The Jolie. I really can't. But I didn't care, man... I WAS AT THE MOVIES!!! I was taking what I could get. 

I purchased my frozen coke and popcorn (both small but actually not 'cause nothing is truly small in the world of fast food anymore - but that's another post) and I settled in. I tweeted. I sipped my coke. I ate my popcorn. I didn't call home.

The ordinary from way back when is no longer so ordinary. We've been on a break. But there I was again, more than a year later, doing ordinary. Nothing too flash or OTT... just me, myself and I enjoying an ordinary movie.

And it was frecken MARVELLOUS!!!!

Again, I agree. That movie won't be winning no Oscars. But I did have a giggle and the light hearted comedy, although mostly cliched and unbelievable - I mean, who exactly takes their kids to a bust into a porn server location? - was exactly what I needed. So thank you Cam and Jason. I really did love spending my free afternoon with you.

And yes, I really do need to try and add more of the old ordinary into my life as I create a new ordinary for me and my wee family.

Now, back to making wee sandwiches as we're off to a petting zoo today! Yay.

PS I hope you're keeping across my blogs over  at World Travellers... the latest one is about food and travel... combined! One of my favourite things. 

  

  

I'm blogging for World Travellers....

... and loving it! :)

Here's my latest one on why the Middle East should get a look'in for your next family getaway...

Book it. Book it now. Sounds awesome. 

I cry...

... every time I read this.
Such a wet blanket now that I'm a mom. It's true. I'd heard it happens. I'm a cliche.
I do, I do, a thousand times I do cherish every moment with my cuddlebug.

The never ending search....

"People confuse the source of their happiness. They become temporarily happy when they get a new car, or a new house, or a new marriage. And they think that they are suddenly happy because of this new thing in their life. In reality, they are happy because for a brief moment, they are without desire. But then soon another desire comes along. And the search continues."

Thank you Rebecca for that gem. So true. So true.  

Vinegar and baking soda... it HAS to be done!

Now I know Wednesdays are usually reserved for some really cool stuff I've seen online.... ah, wait a minute, this totally hits the mark 'cause the ole vinegar and baking soda trick is pretty ah-maze!! 

Let's just start by saying that I'm the WORST housewife ever. I love a house that sparkles and shines... its just that I'd prefer someone else to do it all for me. I'm a pretty good 'straightener upper' though and am forever plumping the cushions and stacking the (dirty) dishes into neat rows.

I've also been on the 'eco products' band wagon for years.... although the cleaner I most recently had (oh, how I miss you Jo!) kindly asked me to please buy the 'heavy duty stuff' so that she could do her job properly without any sort of elbow or shoulder dislocation from the scrubbing required. In my experience though, it all takes some serious elbow grease regardless of product... and its all sooooooooooo mind - and arm - numingly boooorrrrriiiinnnnggggggg!!!!

So I've wanted to try this vinegar milarkie for years - as in literally years - and finally got around to it this past week when I stumbled over this page. Since my my bath was kinda heading the very same way I got all inspired... not enough to add no fancy smancy orangey stuff mind you and just went straight up, hardcore vinegar. Although I did make a rather flash spray bottle by recycling the nozzle from something else and just tightening it straight onto the vinegar bottle. Gosh, there is so a domestic goddess deep down in there somewhere.

And like I said... pretty AH-MAZE!! It's so easy peasy, pudding and pie that I will absolutely be cleaning the bathroom this way again. And again. And again. And hello, non-toxic. Like, boom. 

Now I'm telling you that you simply must, must, must try this out for yourself - if you haven't already. And in that case... why haven't you shared this awesomeness???

So cheap, so easy, and so good for the environment. We're all winning!

I also cleaned my drains with the 'how to' from this site. And since I was on a bit of a vinegar bender, I used it as a rinse in my washing. Yuck. I hated it. Tried it twice and sucked both times. So I'm out on that count. But since I don't use softener anyhoo, we're still winning, people, we're still winning.

I can't want to hear how your experiences go... yay or nay, what did you think?

PS I hope my Pam's cheque is in the mail for the free advertising!  

If only I could I would... NoMad Hotel, New York

Um, how could I possibly be in the state of New York... and not visit New York City!! Hello... isn't that, like, mandatory??

So its off to NoMad Hotel, New York City with the one person in the world I can always rely on to feel like cake (usually with extra cream), reruns of Sex and the City and really, really good champagne. She'll also do copious shoe shopping with me, has very different taste in men and has the dubious title of being me best mate.

See you there Karkabear! Bring on the big 4-0... yes, it will happen!! If only to say I told you so!!!

If only I could I would... Lake Placid Lodge

This is me - Lake Placid Lodge, New York.
Its all beautiful.
Every. Single. Space.
I'm at a quandary about what room I'd have to have.... but I'm leaning heavily towards Owl's Head Cabin. Di-vine.
If only I could I would...

A galloping New Year....and Gretchen Rubin

I cannot believe that it's 2014!! There was so much hype around 2012 for soooo long, I just didn't think of any other years after it... so I'm always a little shocked when they arrive. It feels like only yesterday that we were all stressing about the YEAR 2000.... and yet, here we are... the YEAR 2014.  

A Seven year in numerology, this year is all about introspection... so pretty much looking within rather than without to find things that make us happy. Its also the year of the horse. The wood horse to be exact... and from what I can tell, its to be a rather challenging year for most of us 'cause it seems this horse likes to gallop, has way too much energy, and occasionally catches fire. I'm a dragon and Mr is a rat... word on the street is that neither of us should expect an awesome year. But in the end I suppose, it's what you make of it... you know, free will and all that. So there's no reason why you can't make it EPIC and give that little wooden horse the finger.  

Why not start here with your epicness... 

I've spoken before on how much I enjoyed Gretchen Rubin's "The Happiness Project"... its a GREAT book and I can't recommend enough that you take the time to read it if you can. Her website if also chokka full of awesome stuff so pop over there is you can too. Its because of Gretchen that I remind myself daily, while knee deep in my very own 'Motherhood Project', which often feels scarily ground hoggish and mundane, that the days are long but the years are short. So I make a conscious effort to really try and enjoy every nappy change, every breastfeed and every time we sit down for a snack ... because one day I just know I'll miss it. 

Anyhoo, Gretchen has recently launched 21 day happiness projects. That's kind of perfect! Twenty one days is exactly how long it takes to make a habit.... she so must have known that!! You can actually try 'The Relationship Challenge' for free and then decide if you would like to try one of the other four options she has on offer. It goes without saying that I'll be signing up for the know yourself better and de-clutter one. I'm currently trying the relationship challenge though and am on day five. Its easy things like remembering to kiss your partner every morning and night. Real simple stuff. But its usually the simple stuff that gets forgotten in the madness of day to day life. 
So why not give it a go and see what you think... it may just be the first step in one of your best years EVER!