Task it Tuesday - Feb 26

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Just for the record: staying on top of things is tough. You put a plan together and, inevitably, something unexpected creeps in.  Sometimes you just need to roll with the punches and celebrate every little success. Mine would look like this:

1. Sticking to daily Bible reading 
2. Improving how many contacts I make with the 5-5-5-5 plan.
3. Time blocking my calendar most weeks.
4. Began researching agents for Clever Tom.

This week many of the same tasks are on the list:

• Daily Bible reading
• Stick to my 5-5-5-5 plan for reaching out to more people: 5 calls, 5 texts, 5 emails and 5 handwritten notes every day. 
• Time block my calendar
• Exercise Friday and Saturday
• Create a marketing proposal.
• Find an agent to which to submit Clever Tom 
• Participate in #FaithPitch

Not sure if I will accomplish it all, but I'll give it a good shot.

What does your week look like?

Mailbox Monday - Feb 25

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Happy Monday. Hope you all had a nice weekend. I worked a bit, but I've been trying to take a day off every once in a while. The Lil' Princess had her first dance show at school. It was three days of performances. All the girls did an amazing job. I'm just not sure how my little girl ended up being this grown up young woman. This is my youngest.

The Lil' Diva is getting ready for prom. Her dress came in and we picked out shoes this weekend. I can't believe she is going to graduate this year.

As far as my mailbox goes, the physical mailbox was empty. That's okay, because I have plenty to read. I did, however, order two books that I wanted for my Kindle.

Johnnie Johnson spoke at our company's national convention in California earlier this month. I didn't go, but heard he was amazing. 

That's it from my neck of the woods. Hope you have a great week. Feel free to share any of your new books in the comments. 

Task It Tuesday - Feb 19

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

My, oh my, it has been a busy little place around here. We have decided to do some redecorating and that means more cleaning in the middle of working. Oh, well, it  must be done.

Here is what this week's to-do list looks like:

• Daily Bible reading
• Stick to my 5-5-5-5 plan for reaching out to more people: 5 calls, 5 texts, 5 emails and 5 handwritten notes every day. This is so hard, but it needs to be done.
• Time block my calendar
• Exercise Thursday and Friday
• Update CRM - slated for Wednesday (In progress)
• Create a marketing proposal.
• Find an agent to which to submit Clever Tom 

What does your to-do list look like this week?

New Release and Giveaway: The Emotion Thesaurus, Second Edition by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi

As writers, we all have our favorite writing methods. For instance, some swear by Scrivener, while others write in Word or Google docs. Some prefer to draft longhand, using colorful gel pens and notebooks.

Most of us have a favorite writing book (or ten), too. These books have helped us understand storytelling better, demystifying certain aspects of writing. Well, today I'm taking part in welcoming a new writing guide into the world: The Emotion Thesaurus (Second Edition).

You may have heard of The Emotion Thesaurus before, or even have a copy. The original's lists of body language, thoughts, and visceral sensations for 75 unique emotions made brainstorming character expressions and reactions so much easier. It quickly became a bestseller.

Now, there's a bigger, better second edition. Angela and Becca have added 55 NEW emotions such as Euphoria, Vindicated, and Schadenfreude. (And that's not all that's new, either...the book is almost twice the size as the original.)

Anyway, if you're interested in checking it out, you can read some of the reviews on Goodreads or find information here.

One more thing to tell you about...are you ready for this?

GIVEAWAY ALERT!

Wish you could attend a free writing retreat, go to a conference, snag a seat at a workshop, or have your professional membership to a writing organization paid for? Of course you do!

Well, at Writers Helping Writers, one lucky winner will get one of the above, up to a $500 US value.

This is the giveaway of a lifetime, so hurry over to enter!

Mailbox Monday - Feb 18

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

I will truly be glad when it is warm enough around here for me to change my photo to a spring mailbox. It's snowing again. Shouldn't be as bad as last week's storm, but I would love to wear something other than boots when I walk the dog. Theo hasn't been happy either. The snow has been crunchy and hard to walk on, so he doesn't stay out long.

Last week was hectic with work and home life. I can't say I'm seeing a lull in my workload like sometimes happens in the first quarter of the year. This will probably be one of my best first quarters since I started in real estate.

As far as my mailbox, it has been full lately.

This one arrived over the weekend. I'll be reviewing it in March.

I picked up these two Kindle freebies this past week.

Then I grabbed this group from the local library for research.

One of my friends gave me these that she accidentally bought when she already owned them. That cab be a problem with book lovers. 

That should keep me out of trouble for a while. 

What did your mailbox look like? Anything exciting you would like to share?

Heart in the Sand: A Valentine's Day Story by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Heart in the Sand

by Cheryl C. Malandrinos

I tossed the ragged clam shell into the water and inspected my work. Satisfied, I slogged toward a bamboo mat a few yards away and plopped down. Leaning back on my hands, I tilted my head and breathed in the smell of the Atlantic.

The sun slunk to meet the horizon and cool ocean breezes caressed my cheeks. The Outer Banks of North Carolina always was our favorite spot. It didn’t matter where we stayed--Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head or Kittyhawk--this part of the Atlantic Seaboard begged for a visit at least once a year. 

It seemed fitting to return despite losing him. I fumbled through my beach bag for my journal and pen. I wanted to remember what it felt like to be here without him for the very first time.

August 15, 2010

The ocean is just as beautiful as we remembered. The undulating waves crash down into the sand and wipe away the footprints of young lovers walking hand in hand along the shore. During the day, the sun is a fiery inferno melting us. By eventide, the orange sun is dulled by the majestic purple sky with its slivers of clouds, and a slight fog comes off the water. The seagulls screech all day as if they hadn’t stuffed their bills with unsuspecting ocean creatures and crumbs of bread tossed by tourists.

Do you remember how many young families we saw last year? Was it fifty? Looks like it doubled. What a difference a year makes. Who am I kidding? Sometimes even a few months makes a difference. 

I wish I knew you were going to leave me that day. There are so many things I hoped to say before we parted. I love you would be the first. I feel lucky to be your wife might be next. Thank you for filling my life with joy and happiness. Thanks for sticking by me when times were rough. 

We raised three wonderful kids. They are a living testament to the love we share. They are adjusting to you being gone, but they worry about me too much. Did you know they actually forbade me to come this year? Who did they think they were talking to? As soon as they told me not to go, I jumped online and bought the plane ticket. Someone once told me that my head was so hard it could crack a diamond. I'm sure that wasn't you. They have called every day since I arrived to tell me how inconsiderate I am. Is it bad that I chuckle a bit inside? 

Maybe I should say it was so much fun seeing you as a Papou. The little ones loved their Yia-Yia, but they adored you. You always had a special way with kids. Remember when five-year-old Janie got sick all over the carpet in the wee hours of the morning? You changed her and rocked her until she drifted off to sleep. I wish they had more time with you. 

I could go on and on, but you know you were my world for forty years. I'll cherish our time together until we see one another again.  

When you told me you rented the big house in Nags Head with the wall of windows looking out over the ocean, I almost fainted. We never spent that much money on a rental before. It was the second best Valentine’s Day gift I ever got. Your love will always be the first. Each morning I step out the back door and our beautiful Atlantic is only fifty feet away. I wish you were here to share it with me. It isn’t the same without you, but I felt I owed it to you to come.

I never was much of an artist, and my sand castles still collapse, but I etched this heart in the sand to let you know I think of you every day. I hope you can see it as you look down from heaven. I miss you.

All my love,

Vivian

Copyright Cheryl C. Malandrinos - All Rights Reserved.

Task It Tuesday

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Lost almost a whole day yesterday, so this week is going to be kind of busy--especially with the impending snow. Both kids will probably end up with early dismissal and who knows if we will have school on Wednesday. I'm hoping we go for the two-hour delay, but it depends on when the snow and lovely ice stop.

As for my to-do list, I haven't had time to dig into my planner, so this is a guess.

• Daily Bible reading 
• Stick to my 5-5-5-5 plan for reaching out to more people: 5 calls, 5 texts, 5 emails and 5 handwritten notes every day. This is so hard, but it needs to be done.
• Time block my calendar 
• Exercise Wednesday and Friday
• Update CRM - slated for Wednesday (I hope I get it done this week. I have a mailing I want to get out at the beginning of March.)
• Create a marketing proposal. 
• Help the Lil' Diva clean out her room to get ready for her new bedroom set.

What does your to-do list look like this week? Anything you especially want to tackle?

Mailbox Monday - Feb 11

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

We are somehow at Monday again. It was a rough week around here. We lost our oldest cat. He's been with us for over 14 years.

Killer, A.K.A. Miller, was the sweetest cat. He would greet you in the morning and hang out around the bathtub at night when I would read. He loved catnip. He was also such a great daddy to Giggles (above) when we brought her home from the shelter. She's been a bit lost without him.

In my book world, there has been a lot going on. I just finished a great book yesterday. If you like reading about business men, Houston, or books about partnerships and friendships, this is a good read. 

Between Kindle freebies and books I've requested or ordered, the mailbox has been busy.

I bought these ones:

These two are review requests:

Then I picked up a couple freebies.

I'm reading one of The Daughter's of the Mayflower books right now. Hopefully I can get it done as I don't get too far behind on reviews.

Hope you have a blessed week.

Coming in April: Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday by Valerie Woerner

“Filled with grace, hope, and practical ways forward for every momma.” — Candace Cameron Bure, actress and New York Times bestselling author

Most days motherhood often looks like bottomless piles of laundry; a sink full of dishes; sleepless nights; and unshowered, nonstop, endless days. If that’s all there is, then no wonder “Grumpy Mom” sometimes sneaks into your heart and home.

If you can relate, you’re in good company—Valerie Woerner gets it and has experienced Grumpy Mom more often than she’d care to admit. In Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday, Valerie shares what she’s learned so far about sending Grumpy Mom packing and embracing a joyful, intentional motherhood that is so much better than you thought possible.

As you journey with Valerie, you’ll be inspired and equipped to find energy in the most unlikely places, pursue your own dreams, be set free from mom guilt, feel content despite unfinished to-do lists, spend purposeful time with God amid the daily chaos, and discover more joyous moments of motherhood.

So, take a holiday from Grumpy Mom, and enjoy life as the mom God made you to be.

You can read an excerpt here.

Task it Tuesday - Feb 4

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Well, I missed blogging here yesterday, so I wasn't going to let it happen two days in a row. I haven't had time to block my calendar for the week. Usually it's done on Sunday. This is what happens when you sell a house over the weekend. I've also got a closing today and new listings I'm working on.

Here is what my plan should look like for the week:

• Daily Bible reading 
• Stick to my 5-5-5-5 plan for reaching out to more people: 5 calls, 5 texts, 5 emails and 5 handwritten notes every day.
• Time block my calendar 
• Exercise Wednesday and Saturday
• Update CRM - slated for Wednesday

What does your to-do list look like this week? Anything you especially want to tackle?