I had heard of several other authors who now use pinterest to help keep their inspiration going when writing a book. I love it!  I decided to go on and play a little. So these are the pins I choose for my completed manuscript FORGOTTEN REINS.

What do you think?

In the meantime, I had to try to find some quick and easy meals this week and while floating around on pintrest (yes pintrest, I’ll tell you more about it in a few days.) I came across this mouth-watering Chicken Ranch Pizza recipe by Fake Ginger.

Her picture looks so much better than mine, but it was so yummy I had to make another pizza because the kiddos gobbled it all up! Ranch dressing is a big hit in our house and to put it on pizza… yeah the kiddos were in love at first whiff.

I’m all for quick and delicious recipes, how about you?

Got one you’d like to share?

I hope today that Emmanuel Kelly inspires you too!

Last weekend I took a writing workshop with Cheryl Klein on re-visioning a novel. She had some great ideas and techniques for writers, but she also introduced me to wordle. I know we’ve all seen those posters full of words and other sayings.

Wordle was a program developed by a IBM researcher and how the program words is this: you take a piece of writing and insert it in the wordle text box. The program will then pull out the words used most frequently in the text. You can change the layout and the colors. Cool right?

This this my Forgotten Reins Wordle.

I’m thinking I’ll do this with all my novels when their finished, it’s a piece of art made of words and reflects a part of the story that leaves us all to wonder until we read the book.

So I’ll leave you with these pondering words of my wordle today, as I get back to writing.

As a writer, paper lover, and person who normally gets mail everyday I wanted to share this super idea with you. Mary Rominette Kowal has posted this challenge and so I want to forward the challenge to all of you this month in Febuary.

This challenge is this:

Every day starting with the first day of February write a letter and send it to someone. Simple right? It doesn’t have to be a letter necessarily as we think of a sheet of paper, but could also be a short note in a card, or simply a card that might make someone smile or brighten their day because you thought of them. The catch is… you have to mail it. I know it will cost you $.45 for a stamp in the US, but the cost is little compared to what it might mean to the person on the other side of the mail box.

You can send a letter to a  loved one, a friend, or a complete stranger. There are several listings of places where you can send cards and letters to prisioners of war, those who fight to protect our countries, or those in homes and shelters needing to know someone cares.

Stars and Stamps has a great resource for those of you who like to make cards to send to our troops. I highly recommend hoping over to their blog and checking out how you can create and contribute to this effort.

Well it’s time for me to finish unpacking before our weekly bible study group meets. Hopefully, somewhere in my suitcase are some photos to share!

like these yummy yogurt strawberrys from Jessica Gamer

or how about these adorable crochet heart bobbi pins by Grateful Prayer and a Thankful Heart?

or check out this sweetheart coupon book by Passionately Artistic

and last but not least of today’s heart-speration share is…

this darling princess hair style.

I’m out of town today, but I’d love to see what you’ve made this week or what heart-sperations you’ve found. Be sure to link up below. I can’t wait to see all your heart-sperations!

I’ll see you all again on Monday, have an awesome weekend!

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First of all, I want to apologize for the lack of  posts this week. Our family was bit by the flu bug. For the past two days, Bug and I have been curled up in bed watching cartoons and being sick together. Bella had it a few days before us, and hopefully it will bypass Boy and Chad. Or I pray so.

Last Saturday, Bella’s girl scout troop went bowling. It was just the three of us, Bella, Bug, and I. And both of them scored higher than me. I guess I could use the excuse that Bug had to ‘assist’ me by holding on to my ball until I left go, but it was the time we spent together that mattered. Bug couldn’t pick up the bowling ball she rolled it instead. Nothing like granny bowling at the bowling alley!

Tuesday night, before the flu hit, Boy’s cubscout den went on a tour of our local fire station. The kids learned about fire safety, and dialing 911 in an emergency. They even got to see a crew go out on a call and come back, thankfully it wasn’t anything very serious.

Yesterday was Bugs field trip to the Discovery Workshop over at the YMCA, of course we didn’t go, but don’t tell Bug she missed her field trip. The last thing I want to do is upset my sick child.

Chad has been great this week with taking Bella and Boy to school for me and checking up on us.

As you read this, I’m more than likely on my way to NY today for the SCBWI conference this weekend. Just me, Ole Blue, and the highway. I’m happy to say that after two days of being knocked off my feet I’m still able to attend the conference.

I’ve had a lot of challenges this week and a some big decisions to make, but I’ve been really thankful that our family has rejoined and is back in our Life Group again through our Church. We’ve just started studying the book of Romans. I had missed our group, its support, and the weekly assignments that brought on the motivation to dive deeper into my Bible.

I promise to share plenty of photos and tell you all about my trip when I return, and if you could so kindly say a prayer for Boy and Chad that they don’t get the flu while I’m gone or that Ole Blue and I don’t have any mishaps on the road today, I’d greatly appreciate it.

Oh and yesterday was both my big sisters birthdays. No they’re not twins. Just born a year apart to the day. Happy Birthday to my sisters!!

Happy Friday Everyone!

This first project comes from The Crafting Chicks.

 I just love these cut hearts and valentine tags. Be sure to check them out, they’re made from tiny pieces of painted wood and paper.

Something simple and beautiful are this paper heart garland that I found over at Minnesota Mom.

What I love about these paper garland is that you can make them out of any kind of paper. Especially newspaper and other types of paper that you probably already have lying around the house.

And who isn’t inspired by chocolate? Really? If your like me, you can’t wait to make these mouth-watering Ghirardellis Chocolate Raspberry Hearts.

Can you say “Yum”? Oh, and Here is the recipe. Call me, I’ll bring the Vanilla Chia and we’ll sample them together.

Do you have something that has inspired you this week, or that you’ve made and want to share? I can’t wait to see it, please share in the comments section. I’ll be happy to link to it.

Have an inspiring weekend everyone!

Last year, I received this book and gave it to Bella as a gift. Since then we’ve had fun acting out scenes from the bible and learning neat things from a little girl’s point of view.

When we first received it, I didn’t think she would be as willing to read it since it wasn’t Pokemon or Littlest Pet Shop. However, after spending a year with this book, I’m sad to say she’s now out grown it and moved on to another kids devotional book. However, Bug, even as young as she is, was excited when big sister handed down God’s Little Princess Devotional Bible to little sister. Now, I get to go through those wonderful pages all over again.

Sheila Welsh inspiring devotional for little girls has been a wonderful addition to our bedtime story routine. It’s great if you have a girl. This pink and sparkly little book makes little girls realize that they’re a princess. Whether they are Daddy’s princess or God’s princess that every little girl holds a special place in God’s heart. It’s easy to read and is a great way to for moms to spend time with their daughters. There are questions throughout this bible that you can ask your little girl or both of you can answer together.

I even found that we’d be driving in the car and Bella would still be thinking of something we read in this Bible the night before and we’d discuss it again on the way to school. I’m looking forward to sharing this with Bug, even though she’s only four, I have a feeling she will have plenty more questions and just as much fun as Bella did!

Little side note: I received this book free from the publisher in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

For the past year, I’ve been revising one project while writing another. Bella is anxious to see those revisions turn into a book. It’s hard sometimes to be patient when your that age. I too understand her excitement, but I know all good things take time.

This week, I’m diving into a little more research on my WIP UNBRIDLED.  Jenny and Cade are headed back to the rodeo and I guess so am I. I’ve always loved watching the rodeo, even as a teenager when my Dad took us to 4-h game shows to race my horse. Clover-leaf barrel was, and is, my favorite of the rodeo events.

So in this book, we’re off to the rodeo. Jenny’s torn about who to give her heart ,and Cade is torn about going back to his rodeo roots to help Jenny.  Now, I’m off to do some more research, talk to a few more cowboys, and saddle up for the next chapter.

All in the mean time, I’ve finished the revisions on my MG series novel and am preparing for a trip to the SCBWI Conference in New York coming up soon. And yes, I’ll be taking Ole Blue, so if you could squeeze a prayer or two in for my travels I’d appreciate it.

Happy Wednesday everyone!

I’m off to write some more!