Random Ramblings—Sunshine Makes Me Happy!

A very big thanks to Kyra Lennon for the Sunshine Award. It made me smile, just like sunshine does :)

I get to answer some easy questions and pass the sunshine along:

Favorite Color?

Green! I LOVE it. I always paint at least one room in my house green.

Favorite Animal?

This will be cheating, but I’m not an animal lover. Can I pick butterflies?

Favorite Number?

13. I kind of get this from my hubby—no one ever picks it J

Favorite (non-alcoholic) drink?

I don’t drink alcohol anyway. It's probably a tie between water (sexy I know) and Root beer.

Facebook or Twitter? 

Neither, but I have considered Twitter.

My passion? 

Easy—BOOKS! My love of books is what started me writing. I can go long periods without writing , but not reading.

Getting or Giving presents?

Definatley giving!!! Giving someone the perfect gift is the best feeling.

Favorite pattern? 

What a fun question :) Paisley—hands down.

Favorite day of the week?

Friday—my kids don’t have homework, and it just feels more relaxed.

Favorite flower? 

Oh, I LOVE flowers. I love every kind, but the strongest smelling ones are my favorite. Like roses and lilacs. 

Now to pass it on. Sorry if you get a repeat tag. - Angie

Emily King

Leigh Covington

Deana Barnhart

Jessie Humphries

Angela Brown  

Random Ramblings: Really? There’s more?

I’ve received some fun awards lately. Freya Morris and Aldrea Allen gave me The Kreativ Blogger Award and Hope Roberson gave me the Liebster Award. Thanks girls! I’m honored.

So, even though I feel like you all know everything about me—here’s a bit more.

1. I’ve been married for 13 years and I’m still head over heels in love with my hubby. He's amazing! Kind, sweet, very smart, and hot—don’t forget HOT!
2.  I’m the oldest of seven kids. Yep, you heard right SEVEN KIDS. I’m like the second mother. In fact, if my brothers or sisters can’t find Mom they call me.
3. My sisters call me a book whore, because I like everything. But the more I learn about the craft of writing the less whorey I am. *Sigh*  I kind of miss those blissful whorey days.
4. I hate math. I don’t really feel a need to explain :)
5. I have freakishly small feet. I’m talking 5-6. I’ve never had a love affair with shoes, because they NEVER have my size.
6. I’m a bit of a closeted Isaiah expert. I’ve been studying that book for years. I think it’s fascinating.
7. I was a cheerleader in high school, but I was a VERY nice cheerleader. I always went out of my way to make people feel included and important. I hate the cliché of the witchy cheerleader.
8. I could live without bread, meat, and dairy—but not candy. Well, I guess if I only ate candy I wouldn’t live too long.
9. My eyelashes are crazy long. I get asked all the time where I get my lashes done. No extras, just 100% mine :)
10. I can repeat all 50 states in alphabetical order. Thank you 4^th grade program.

 Almost everyone I follow has already been given these awards. So the buck stops here. I guess I need to expand my blogging circle. Have a great Thursday everyone!

-Angie

6 days to I’m HearingVoices Blogfest. Yay, I can’t wait!

7 Links to Random-Brain-Wanderings

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you all talking back to me from the internet void. I feel so lucky that people tune in everyday to read my random brain wanderings :)

Last week Tara Tyler and Brinda Berry both gave me the 7x7 link award. And just to show them that I am listening back here are my answers :)

I’m required to link 7 posts on my blog. If you link to one and read it, leave me a comment. I will still get comments even thought the posts are old. I would love to hear from you!

Most Beautiful—Poetry Schmoetry Blogfest: This is a short poem I entered in Shelly Brown’s blogfest. I wrote this as an introduction to my 2^nd WIP. I love the idea of this poem—I think it is beautiful, but maybe I’m biased.

Most Popular—How Writing is like Interior Design: This is by far my most popular post. I think that has something to do with the fact that Janice Hardy linked it on her blog :) Color me shocked.

Most Helpful—Can I pick two? Heck yes, I’m writing this post so I can do whatever I want :) Did you say something?: My critique partner Amy Dahlke wrote this post on how to punctuate dialogue correctly. Maybe I wasn’t listening in English class but I learned a lot from her. Little Black Book: My other critique partner Sara Bulla gave me a lot to think about with this post.

Most Controversial—Book Covers: No Judgment…Well maybe a little: This post was pure opinion, and I was sure I would offend someone. Sorry, if I did.

Most Surprisingly Successful—Tag you’re it: This is my second most read post…and I have no idea why. I’m stumped.

Most Underrated—Metaphorically Speaking: I love metaphors, but I got little feedback on this post. Hmm—maybe I’m crazy :)

Most Pride Worthy—Spelling Bee drop out: I’m not above showing my weaknesses to the world. I like this post because I out myself. It was liberating.

There you have it. Probably more than you wanted to know about my blog. I’m not going to pick five people to pass this on to. I’m just going to say that if you want to do it, you’ve just been picked by me :)

-Angie

P.S. Emily King interview me today on her blog: Get Busy Writing. Come on over and visit :)

And the award goes to…

Brittany over at My Life Herding Cats has generously awarded me two blog awards.

Brittany is a former Idaho girl like me, and although we are miles apart we both share a Burley Idaho connection. I’m almost convinced that whether you know it or not--Burley Idaho is the center of the universe.

So in my responsibility as an award winner I must:

• Link Brittany
• Share 7 things about myself
• Award 5 other bloggers
• Contact bloggers

So drum roll please…7 things about me--you didn’t know, you wanted to know:

1) I’m an artist. I draw (ink and colored pencil mostly). But my favorite medium is paper. I can make almost anything out of paper. I’m an expert with scissors. If you wanted me you cut out an elephant, I could do it in an instant—without a pattern.

2) Now don’t judge me too harshly. I’m NOT an animal lover. Animals stress me out. They always want food. They always want inside. They shed—everywhere. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate animals. I would never hurt an animal, but I think animals should belong to people who REALLY want them. (Although I will admit—I do like cats :)

3)I can kick my kid’s butts at Just Dance 2 on the wii. They don’t stand a chance against me. I can rock a near perfect score every time. Snap! Take that kids :)

4) Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the colors, the weather, the food, the football games. But mostly I love the death of the icky hot summer.

5) Don’t judge me for this either :) As a senior in high school I was Idaho’s Jr. Miss 1994. I know…I know…beauty pageants, but Jr. Miss is different. Instead of a swim suit competition contestants are judged on their grades, talent, ability to speak publicly. I paid for my college, including housing, with scholarships I won through Jr. Miss (they have since changed the name to Distinguished Young Woman). I still occasionally act as a judge in Utah.

6) I hate raisins and avocados. I won’t eat anything that has touched a raisin or an avocado.

7) I’m a candy addict. I don’t think I’ve gone fifteen years without some kind of candy every day. I’m not picky (unless raisins are involved) but I prefer chocolate. I kind of have a panic attack if there is no candy in my purse. In fact that reminds me…I need to go to the store.

Now to pass it on—if you don’t follow these bloggers you should.

Emily (Get Busy Writing)—She currently querying, so send her your love.

Abby (Something To Write About) —I love her positivity.

Tara— (Tara Tyler Talks) I can always count on Tara.

Kim (Confessions of a Bibliophile)—Always thoughtful :)

Shelly (Writing With Shelly)—She was my first follower. I’m still not sure how she found me, but I’m glad she did.

There were so many people I wanted to give this to, but I tried to find people who haven’t gotten these awards before. If I missed someone who really wanted it—I’m sorry :)

This post was a little long than my normal posts, so thanks for sticking with it.

-Angie

Libster Award

Being part of Deana Barnhart’s Blog-O-Rama has been more fun that I could have imagined. There is something so inspiring about connecting to other people who have the same dream as you. And the support is amazing! I love being part of a group that genuinely wants others to succeed.

Fellow writer Lisa Ann who has the coolest job and an amazing WIP gave me the Libster Award. Thank you Lisa—you are so sweet :) Go check out her blog. She is the winner of the Query Contest and the 200 Word Contest. It can’t be long before an agent snaps her up.

The Libster Award (meaning friend in German) is meant to connect us even more and spotlight new bloggers who have less than 200 followers—but hopefully not for long. The rules of the award are:

1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the internet—other writers.
5. And best of all – have fun and spread the karma.

Here are some of the friends I’ve made.

1. Amber Plante: She is a writer and an editor—HOW COOL IS THAT! She has fantastic tip on her blog. I love to visit it.
2. Amy Kennedy: She writes Steampunk. Her query and 200 words left me wishing I could go the book store and buy her story—who doesn't love revenge?
3. Katie Dodge: She is hilarious and she leaves the most supportive comments :)
4. K.V. Briar: Her first 200 words hooked me also, and I love her literary insights in to everyday things.
5. Kim Karras-Confessions of a Bibliophile: Her writing is beautiful. What else can I say?

So writers of the world unite! Show them your support and thank you to everyone who has helped me this past month :)

-Angie

Tag you're it!

Shelly Brown blog tagged me on her blog yesterday. How fun. It is like a chain letter without all the promises of good luck and threats of destruction.

1. Do you think you are hot?

Every summer I wish I wasn’t so hot—not what you meant? Well my husband does so that’s all that counts.

2. Upload a picture or wallpaper you are using at the moment.

Every time I think I’m a bad parent I look at this and think—At least I don’t…

3. When was the last time you ate chicken?

I’m with Shelly Brown this is a boring question, but I ate sweet and sour chicken last week. I did eat a bag of gummy bears and a Butterfinger last night while I was writing.

4. The song you listened to recently.

Blow by Ke$ha—I know, I know I’m not 17 anymore, but it’s fun. I write all about the guilty pleasure I take in listening to club music on my family blog.

5. What were you thinking as you were doing this?

I’m not as interesting as I thought I was J

6. Do you have any nicknames? What are they?

My husband calls me Deanne. It is kind of an evolution of a few nicknames during the 13 years we have been married. First he called me Angelina—then Angelina Jolie—then De-Angelina—then just Deanne, and Deanne stuck. It's his goal in life to get other people to call me Deanne.

7. Tag 8 blogger friends

• Sara Bulla—one my awesome critique partners
• Amy Dahlke—my other awesome critique partner.
• Katrina Lanz—she is so much fun and so are her blogs
• Rachel Ure—Amazing artist and sister-in-law.
• Becca Densley—hey little sis. Time to start bloging again.
• Karen Howell—because you need something else to do besides raising 6 kids.
• Risa Greenwood--one of my most favorite Aunts in the world :)

I have 1 spot left if anyone wants it. Just comment below :) Thanks Shelly.

-Angie