The Jammie Girl

A Great Start to the Summer

Angie — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:45:30 +0000

— 1 —

You may have noticed my beautiful new social media icons at the top right of my blog. My original ones disappeared suddenly a few months ago and I just didn’t have the money for a high-priced blog designer to fix it. So I did what I could on my own and muddled through with something less than what I really wanted. But this week I got those fixed as well as a few more little tweaks that needed doing. I highly recommend Eagle Blog Design if you have some blog work you need done for a very reasonable price!

— 2 —

I have to give a big shout out to my husband for something he did for me. There was a nail polish color I’d seen on a friend and had been looking for: OPI Cajun Shrimp. Everyone was sold out. Michael’s a courier, and this week he looked at every drugstore and grocery store he stopped at on his route until he finally found it for me. He’s a keeper.

— 3 —

You may remember I mentioned that a psychic would be visiting our writers’ group meeting last Saturday. It was wonderful! She talked a lot about crystals, their uses, and how to work them into stories. She also came around to each of us (and it was a pretty large group) and “read” us individually. She said I had a lot of ideas and needed to focus. I was kinda stunned when she didn’t mention my chronic pain at all, and said my “aura was clear”. Really? I have to admit, I was doing my best to make sure I gave no outward signs of pain during the meeting. I was fully medicated, wearing makeup and jewelry, and forced myself not to touch my neck or roll my shoulders even once while she could see me, which was tough because the meeting ran long. But she was convincing enough that I ordered a few crystals on ebay and pulled several more out of my son’s rock collection. I’ll take help wherever I can get it!

— 4 —

Both my boys are home for the summer and I’m savoring it. I love the sounds of gunfire from the XBox360 melded with the sound of a drum practice pad. On stormy days we’ve lounged on the sofa and watched X-Men movies and Zombieland. This is what moms of boys do.

— 5 —

John brought up his math grade enough to earn the right to go to Shakespeare Camp this summer, so I’m splurging on that even though our finances are shaky. He didn’t get to do any camps last summer because of my limitations, so this year he’s going. He’s been several years before and he’s always loved it, and I adore going to their final performance on the Central Park stage. It’s pretty fabulous.

— 6 —

I’ve been battling the oddest problem the last couple of months – horribly chapped lips. I mean like “I’ve been on an Arctic expedition” chapped. Cracked, bleeding, painfully chapped. I’ve been trying everything, and then I finally got my hands on some beeswax lip balm from Earthy Browns and twenty-four hours later you’d never know I had a problem. I’m all healed and soft, which is good since Michael obviously deserves a kiss for the nail polish, don’t you think?

— 7 —

I’m asking for prayers for one of my best friends, Dianna, as she prepares for her fifth baby to be born. I think it’s going to happen this week, and I’m a little nervous because she labors so fast and lives too far from the hospital for my comfort. So I’m praying not only for a healthy baby and mother, but for a baby born in the hospital, not in the car.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Priced at just $4.99, it is now available in every format your little heart could desire at Smashwords, or, if you prefer, it’s also for sale in a Kindle version at Amazon or a Nook version at Barnes and Noble!

Share/Bookmark

A Little Creative Writing

Angie — Mon, 28 May 2012 16:51:06 +0000

Mysti Parker is hosting a contest on her blog, Unwritten, called May Flash Fiction. She’s a fabulous woman I’ve only recently had the pleasure to meet, and her prompt called to me. Grab a pack of tissues and click on over to read my entry. Remember, this is fiction, folks. And if the prompt calls to you like it did to me hurry up and enter – you’ve only got through the 29th!

Share/Bookmark

A Very Blessed Young Woman

Angie — Sun, 27 May 2012 10:45:48 +0000

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Last Saturday my best friend’s daughter was baptized into a church she loves. And then Friday she graduated from high school. This is a girl who has been brilliant and beautiful since the day she was born, and a leader from the time she took her first step. She has accomplished so much, and has always stayed true to herself through teenage years that are much more difficult now than when her parents and I navigated those waters. She is blessed with many talents, a loving and supportive family, and a boyfriend who is a true romantic. Krista, I can hardly wait to see what joys the future holds for you!

What prayer or scripture has inspired you this week? Drop by Saints and Scripture Sunday, Scripture and a Snapshot, Sunday Snippets, Spiritual Sundays, Hear it on Sunday,Playdates with God, Walk With Him Wednesdays, and iFellowship to share!

Share/Bookmark

Aaron’s Home for the Summer!

Angie — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:48:44 +0000

— 1 —

I supervised yard work last weekend. By that I mean I literally stood in the yard pointing at things saying, “That’s poison ivy. Kill it.” and “That’s a hosta your mother gave me. Stay away from it.” Of course I still got poison ivy, and I’m trying to hold out as long as possible before going on steroids since my family has expressed their reluctance to be within shouting distance of me during the course of a dose-pak. We’ll see.

— 2 —

My appointment with my neurosurgeon went well. I told him that the Celebrex was helping, but only very slightly, and that I was still in a lot of pain a vast majority of the time. He pulled up my pre-op films and was very honest with me about what lousy shape I was in before surgery and that we didn’t have any idea how long I’d been in that condition, so we can’t know how long it’s going to take for the pain to abate. But he assures me it will get better.

— 3 —

Aaron’s home for the summer! It’s wonderful having him around. I’ve missed his innate sweetness and his dry wit . . . and also his computer and car repair skills.

— 4 —

As a matter of fact, Aaron spent the whole day Wednesday putting new brake pads and one rotor on Michael’s car. I’m so proud. I have no idea where in our gene pool he picked up his flair for all things mechanical, but I’m sure glad he did

— 5 —

With the wedding less than a year away Aaron and Catherine are hip-deep in wedding planning, so if you’re in the Louisville area and have a vendor (photographer, videographer, florist, baker, caterer, DJ, photobooth) you’ve used and would recommend please let me know and I’ll pass it along!

— 6 —

It’s nice to be back in the swing of writing, even though I’m not doing as much of it as I’d like yet. It just feels right. I do need to find a critique group, and I think I’d like to find one with mainly Women’s Fiction writers, although I’m not 100% sure that’s the way to go. Maybe a group who write a variety of genres would be good. I need to ponder that one a while, I think.

— 7 —

Speaking of writing, our local writing group will have a psychic visiting tomorrow, and I’m very excited. I’ve never met anyone who claimed to have psychic powers of any kind, but I love reading novels with a paranormal slant, so I can hardly wait

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Share/Bookmark

Enjoy the Day

Angie — Sun, 20 May 2012 10:49:01 +0000

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. ~ Psalm 118:24

I’ve spent too much time worrying about what might happen, what the future holds (or doesn’t hold), and wishing I’d made different decisions in the past. But happiness lies in enjoying the day as you live it, and today that’s what I’m doing. Can you say the same?

Share/Bookmark

Back to Writing

Angie — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:15:41 +0000

— 1 —

Dianna’s shower Friday went beautifully. A houseful of women laughed, ate, laughed some more, watched Dianna open presents she loved (she got the coolest bathtub I’ve ever seen!) and laughed some more. I don’t know which I laughed at harder – Leia’s description of nursemaid’s elbow and how to fix it yourself or Kaye’s tales of Boss the rooster. If only I’d had the foresight to tape them both!

— 2 —

We essentially celebrated Mother’s Day all weekend since I got beautiful pearl earrings from Aaron and Catherine early and wore them to the shower Friday (this having a daughter thing has even more perks than I expected!) and Michael and John couldn’t wait to give me flowers and the new Stephen King book, The Wind Through the Keyhole: A Dark Tower Novel, which I got Saturday. Then Sunday John came down with some sort of flu-like bug and spent the day huddled under blankets on the sofa. I hated that he felt bad, but I have to admit it was kinda nice to be able to baby him a bit. At thirteen he doesn’t allow me to do that often.

— 3 —

As many of you know, I’ve been on the hunt for summer reading for John, and have gotten some great suggestions. I decided before I went shopping, though, I’d read one of his latest favorites and see exactly what he likes in a book. I read the first book in the Leviathan trilogy by Scott Westerfeld (Leviathan) and I was hooked. I couldn’t read all three fast enough. They’re YA steampunk, which I did not expect to enjoy, but the character development is fabulous and the pacing is perfect. I knew right away what he’d enjoy reading next. Happily, all I had to do was go into Aaron’s room and find the first in Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series (Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1)). John is thrilled.

— 4 —

My pallet beds are growing like crazy. Here are pictures of the first two:

— 5 —

I didn’t plant many annuals this year, and the ones I did plant were all different colors of million bells. I couldn’t find my favorite, tequila sunrise, but this is dreamsicle, which comes pretty close.

— 6 —

Anyone know what this is? To me it’s the one true sign that school’s almost out. Ripe mulberries. My grandmother had a big mulberry tree and I’d go eat my fill from the lower branches when they got ripe, knowing school would be out in just a few days

— 7 —

I’ve been totally slacking off on my writing, mainly because I’ve had a bad attitude and didn’t want that to come across in my WIP. But Wednesday night I had a dream that I was having brunch at Cracker Barrel with Stephen King. If that isn’t a sign from God that I should be writing I just don’t know what is. Steve had biscuits and gravy, by the way.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Share/Bookmark

Random Act of Kindness BLITZ

Angie — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:12:24 +0000

A smile. An encouraging word. A thoughtful gesture. Each day people interact with us, help, and make our day a bit brighter and full. This is especially true in the Writing Community.

Take a second to think about writers you know, like the critique partner who works with you to improve your manuscript. The writing friend who listens, supports and keeps you strong when times are tough. The author who generously offers council, advice and inspiration when asked.

So many people take the time to make us feel special, don’t they? They comment on our blogs, re-tweet our posts, chat with us on forums and wish us Happy Birthday on Facebook.

Kindness ROCKS!

To commemorate the release of their book The Emotion Thesaurus, Becca and Angela at The Bookshelf Muse are hosting a TITANIC Random Act Of Kindness BLITZ. And because I think KINDNESS is contagious, I’m participating too!

Lisa has been a wonderful, supportive friend for many years, and she’s the person who first convinced me I could write, and invited me to a local writing group’s meeting. This group, Louisville Romance Writers, is full of brilliant, funny, strong, supportive people and being in their company energizes me and inspires me to be my best. Lisa holds me accountable for when and why I’m not writing, calls and boosts my spirits when I’m down, and generally keeps me from turning into a reclusive dog-lady. So when she bought her new house, which has a big, wonderful office where’s she’s going to write best-selling novels I brought over some herbs. Because Lisa’s just as talented a cook as she is a writer, and I knew she’s make good use of some fresh basil, thyme, and rosemary.

Do you know someone special that you’d like to randomly acknowledge? Don’t be shy–come join us and celebrate! Send them an email, give them a shout out, or show your appreciation in another way. Kindness makes the world go round.

Becca and Angela have a special RAOK gift waiting for you as well, so hop on over to The Bookshelf Muse to pick it up.

Have you ever participated in or been the recipient of a Random Act Of Kindness? Let me know in the comments!

Share/Bookmark

It’s Baby Shower Week!

Angie — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:39:46 +0000

— 1 —

I don’t entertain much. No, that’s a lie. I don’t entertain at all. Why? Because my house is always a wreck and I have two huge dogs who are spoiled rotten and think they’re lapdogs. So when it was time to plan Dianna’s baby shower I swore I’d take care of everything else if Laura would volunteer her house. Thankfully, she agreed.

— 2 —

So I have been pacing myself very carefully to make sure I could get everything done and still be able to enjoy tonight’s shower, which is going to be fabulous! If it were being held at my house this is the point where I’d be freaking out, screaming at people, and basically running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Instead I’m throwing together a couple of best-made-day-of dishes and making a list of things for my husband and son to carry to the car for me later today. Then I may paint my nails.

— 3 —

This will be baby number five for Dianna, so this won’t be one of those first-baby “I have to have everything Babies R Us carries for my child to survive their first week at home” fiascos. And since we don’t even know which flavor the newest member of the Kennedy Kaboodle will be I suspect most gifts will be very practical things like onesies, diapers, and freezer meals. Because it’s not about the gifts, it’s about the celebration.

— 4 —

Every baby deserves a celebration, and every pregnant woman deserves to be surrounded by friends and family and pampered for an evening. Call it a shower, have a girls’ night out, or make it co-ed and bring all the husbands and kids along. Just celebrate the miracle that’s about to happen.

— 5 —

I gave Dianna several menu options and we ended up with Roast Pork on Buns, Broccoli Berry Salad, Watermelon with Ginger Sauce, Potato Salad, Laura’s Famous Spinach Dip, and Lemon Cake with Buttercream Icing. I don’t have Laura’s recipe, but maybe I can pry it out of her tonight and share later

— 6 —

I’ll also be improvising a citrus punch based on something I saw on Pinterest (with sweet tea and sodas as backup in case it flops). The cake is what had me the most stressed, because I don’t bake, and I certainly don’t decorate. But my friend Nancy does, and she assured me I could do this and even sent me her own buttercream icing recipe. What do you think?

— 7 —

So tweet Dianna your baby shower wishes tonight at @diannakennedy or leave a comment here – I’ll make sure she sees it!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Share/Bookmark

Ten Tips for “Down Days”

Angie — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:07:13 +0000

You’re sick. Your kids are sick. You got called in to work on your day off. Or maybe all the balls you juggle on a daily basis just came tumbling down at once. No matter the reason, we all have days when our plans fall apart and we just want to curl up in a corner and hide from the world. It’s okay. Here’s Plan B.

— 1 —

Ditch your expectations for the day. No guilt. Anything not essential for life or safety can wait a day or two.

— 2 —

Throw the rules out the window. If your fever is 102 it’s okay if the kids watch TV and play video games all day long. It won’t rot their little brains that quickly. The dog can have a quick potty break in the yard instead of a long walk.

— 3 —

Pull something out of the freezer or order out. This is one of the many times when freezer cooking comes in handy, but if you’re not into that or have fallen behind (like I have) pulling some frozen meatballs, a jar of spaghetti sauce, and some dried pasta out is plenty good enough.

— 4 —

Ignore the fact that your house is a pigsty. In the grand scheme of things it really doesn’t matter. During the times I’m firmly on the Fly Lady bandwagon it’s not a big deal, because my house really does stay clean with just fifteen minutes of cleaning a day. But for the other 50% of the time when I’m scrambling to stay ahead of the mess one day still isn’t going to make that big a difference.

— 5 —

Pamper yourself a little if at all possible. Run through Starbuck’s on the way home from work or the pediatrician’s, curl up with a favorite book or movie – comfort yourself.

— 6 —

Call a friend. Even if you have three kids down with the plague and there’s no way anyone’s going to come visit you can vent a little over the phone. Sometimes just talking to someone else about what a lousy day you’re having helps lighten the load and give you a new perspective.

— 7 —

Pray. I’ve kept a prayer journal for about a year now, and even if you’re not religious writing down what you’re thankful for and what you need help with can be a huge eye-opener.

— 8 —

Take any help that’s offered. Let a neighbor pick up your kids at school, let your husband do the laundry and help with homework. Don’t be a martyr.

— 9 —

Light a scented candle, put on your favorite music, and cuddle with the dog, the cat, the kids, and the hubby. Utilize all your senses to find comfort where you can.

— 10 —

Speak thoughtfully to yourself. This is not the time to detail your shortcomings and berate yourself for your weaknesses. Say the things to yourself you would say to your very best friend if she were in this situation.

I’ll also be linking up with Works for Me Wednesday, Whatever Goes Wednesday, and The Mommy Club Resources and Solutions.

Share/Bookmark

Spring Rains. . . and Patience

Angie — Sun, 06 May 2012 11:34:37 +0000

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. ~James 5:7

I’m not patient. If there’s a gene for patience I was born without it. Waiting makes me crazy, even when I have all the time in the world. So how have I dealt with the chronic neck pain, four neurosurgeries, multiple doctors, therapies, medications, and miscellaneous treatments that have controlled my life since January of 2009? Not well. The fact that I lost my job of twenty years and I’m still not physically able to do many normal day-to-day activities, let alone return to work? Not well at all.

I used to think this experience was God’s way of teaching me patience, but I’m just not sure anymore. Everything happens for a purpose, I know that. But sometimes, like today, I get a tad bit (OK, a lot) frustrated that I can’t do the things I want to do. Today I’d like to go see my future daughter-in-law perform in Faust. I’m sure she’s fabulous. But a two-hour ride each way and a three-hour opera? Simply not possible for me right now. And I hate that.
What prayer or scripture has inspired you this week? Drop by Saints and Scripture Sunday, Scripture and a Snapshot, Sunday Snippets, Spiritual Sundays, Hear it on Sunday,Playdates with God, Walk With Him Wednesdays, and iFellowship to share!

Share/Bookmark