Wonder what Carrie thinks...

I love Fridays. And laughing. And being crazy. And laughing like crazy on Fridays. So here's a video that yanked my funny bone this week. Try not to die laughing, cuz you have the whole weekend ahead of you...;)

Yellow Shoes

As of this morning, all three kiddos are back at school, and can you believe it? Our son's a senior. A. Senior. Nearly 18 years old, as in, an adult. Wow. I told him this morning that he was gonna 'rule the school", Lol...

Yesterday he and I got into a bit of a 'debate' when he asked me to buy him a pair of shoes with 'big personality', as he put it. I probably would have been more yielding initially if I hadn't just been treated rudely by the staff of another store, but that's a different story...

As you can see, he talked me into the shoes (and a payment plan to pay me 1/2!), and I guess they're not all that bad. One friend said he's just starting a trend. And hubby said we should pick our battles.

Truthfully, they've already kind of grown on me. Next year he'll be in college and if he moves away, I won't know what he's wearing on any given day and that makes me sad just thinking about it. Waaa...

So maybe when he's done with making his 'statement' and puts these shoes in the trash bin, I'll sneak them out and stash 'em in a closet. You know, for old times sake....

*sniff!* *sniff!* (Would somebody hand me a tissue already...?)

Meet the judges!

As I hope you've heard by now, B&H Publishing Group is giving away two, new Adirondack chairs much like those on the cover of my latest release, Sweet Waters. Just think...you could be relaxing in one of those chairs with a tall, frosty drink and a book (preferably one of mine, haha), while imaginary water laps at your toes. Ahhhh....

But I digress!

Today I'd like to introduce you to the distinguished panel of judges who will help decide the winner of this amazing contest. They are:

Judy Gann
Author, speaker, librarian extraordinaire, and treasured friend from the Pacific Northwest, Judy encourages me with her ideas, humility and ready smile. Read more about Judy at her website: www.judygann.com






Mary Hampton
Mary and I met years ago at the Mt. Hermon Christian Writers Conference in the redwoods of Northern CA. My writer friend and I love to chat about kids and our beloved central coast~and she makes a killer chai tea. You can learn more about Mary at: www.refreshmoments.com


Ronel Sidney
My bloggity buddy from SoCal encourages me with her faith and friendship via this blog, Facebook, and Twitter! Read about Ronel and her ministry to women at her site: www.mommyaccountability.blogspot.com



Karen Ball
Karen and I met in the mid-90s at Mt. Hermon where she tactfully let me know that my writing needed, uh, work. She challenged newbie-me to find my passion and write about that. Now all these years later, Karen's my amazing editor. LOVE how God works! In addition to being a phenomenal editor, teacher, animal-lover and friend, Karen's an award-winning author. Find out more about Karen at: www.karenballbooks.com


Them's the judges, Friends. Now if you haven't yet, go on and follow this link for your last chance to enter to win the two Adirondack chairs!

Back to School Giveaway

Happy Sunday, Friends! Just learned that Lauren over at 5 minutes for books posted a super nice review of Sweet Waters and that the site's giving away a free copy. Not only that, they're giving away several other books too. So hop on over and check them out!

The weekend's a comin'

It's Friday...can I get a woot-woot?!

The sun's shining today along my stretch of the coast. First time in weeks, and it's a super welcome sight. Too much of the gloomies affect me in a not-so-good way, know what I mean?

Anyway, I wanted to remind you that August 30 is coming soon, so if you haven't had a chance to enter B&H Fiction's Adirondack Chair Giveaway in celebration of the release of my new novel, SWEET WATERS, then get going, missy! (Or mister ;) Here's the link with the information you need--and YES, the contest is open to residents outside the U.S. so get crack-a-lackin'!

On Monday I will post the pictures and bios of our prestigious panel of judges...so watch for that!

Also, if you're a writer, you'll want to check out the newly recharged and repopulated CAN--Christian Author's Network--Blog. I now write once a month for shy writers. Stop laughing...I am shy (before I get to know ya, that is...;). Here's a link to my list of posts. You can also click on the CAN title banner to read all recent articles.

Here's to sunny days in your neck of the country. Have a beachy weekend, my friends--wherever you are!

At least it wasn't shorty shorts and cowboy boots

First day of middle school for pre-teen girl and I had a Lorelai moment. See, teen daughter had come along for the ride, promising to help pre-teen girl get her new locker open. I had dressed in mismatched sweats and sandy flip flops and stayed put in the car reading a magazine and trying not to gloat too much as all-around me, mothers with younger kids hustled to get them out of the car with backpacks and lunch boxes and jackets, etc., etc.

Middle school is a whole new animal with drop off lanes and a new level of Independence for both mom and kiddo. No more worrying over makeup and hair, or dressing to see people in the morning. With my youngest in middle school, I can now throw on whatever, offer her a prayer and a kiss, and watch her walk into school from the comfort of my car.

Not.

Neither pre-teen girl nor teen girl could get the new locker open, the text read, and could I come help? Drat. I glanced in the mirror to see strands of hair flopping every which way. A little blush would've been nice...and did I even brush my teeth this morning???

Needless to say, I trudged through the crowded corridors where moms and teachers and siblings struggled with first morning jitters and jammed lockers. Hopefully no one noticed me (nor heard teen daughter say, "Did you even get dressed this morning, mom?"--yeah, she'll get hers...) But even if they did, it wasn't as bad as Lorelai on Rory's first day at Chilton. I'm hangin' on to that...

Mid-week hello

This week's been flying by...sorry for the delay in posting! It's Wednesday and my youngest starts school next week already. Ba! I'm not ready--and neither is she. So I guess that's where I've been...cramming in the most summer we can in these last few days.

The fair's still going on in our county and it's been rockin'. I could actually hear Rick Springfield's voice smokin' through the air last night (remember him from the 80s???). There's something about the misty night and the nearby ocean that literally buoys sounds from Seaside Park (aka the fairgrounds) and floats them over the city.

Thankfully, no heavy metal bands are scheduled ;)

In addition to summer fun, I've been working on a church newsletter, shopping for school supplies (again, blech), doin' some interviews for Sweet Waters, and seriously missing my reality show fixes--although David Cook's at the fair tonight, so that will certainly help!!!

Ah well, here's to squeezing every ounce of fun out of the summer, and more beachy days, my friends, wherever you are!

Have a Seat!

We survived the Fair, and I only got a *little* sunburn (forgot to put the sunscreen in my beach bag--sigh). Lots of fun, though, and I'll be heading back to Seaside Park next week to see David Cook!

Have you seen this?
If you receive my newsletter, then you already know that B&H Publishing Group is celebrating the release of Sweet Waters with this AMAZING giveaway!

They are giving away...wait for it...a set of two Adirondack chairs similar to those on my book's cover!!!

Here's how it works: Simply snap a picture of where you'd put these chairs (in your office, at the beach, by a tree, etc.), then e-mail the image along with your name to SweetWaters@BHPublishingGroup.com.

For more details, here's the link to check out!

I've had a pair of Adirondacks for years and years, but alas, they're pretty rickety now. Wish I could enter--but I think that's against the rules =) So the very best to all of you who give this a shot. I get to take peeks at the pics, and I can't wait to see them!!!

Fair Daze

The Ventura County Fair starts today!!! Sooo much fun. Greasy corn dogs mixed with the smell of hogs, ah. On the upside, it's held at Seaside park, as in 'right next to the beach'--how many fairs can say that?

So it's dollar day and I'm thinking of running over there for at least a couple of hours to see what's new. Besides it makes for great people-watching fun--and as an author, I can't have too much of that, Lol.

Next week David Cook, yes, the American Idol David Cook, will be performing--big woot! If you're a local, you can read the details in this article.

How about you? Any fair-going in your neck of the world? Last year people actually paid to be flung into the air by a monstrous sling shot. Worth the price of admission to see that right there--haha. So what's the craziest thing at your fair?

Tea for five, si vous plais...

Spent some time this weekend over at Lori Kasbeer's cyber beach pad. If you'd like to read that interview and enter to win a free copy of Sweet Waters, hop on over by clicking this link.

As for other doings this weekend, I had High Tea in Beverly Hills yesterday with one of my daughters, my mother, and my sis in law--and my sis in law to be. We were actually there to celebrate her upcoming marriage to my brother (can't wait!!!). Haven't done High Tea in a very long time. Have you?

It was all very Grey Poupon, with a harpist, and fine china, and gloved attendants all around. The menu was appropriately high priced and we all remembered our manners. I'm not a huge tea drinker, but I determined to enjoy that part when~woohoo--guess what? They had chai. Chai Tea at High Tea. Seriously.

For some reason, I secretly thought chai was sort of the poor man's tea, a concoction so milky and rich and nutmegy that no high falutin' tea room would serve it. "Go down to Starbucks if you want that stuff," I figured they'd say.

But there it was, right on the menu, right next to the caviar and salmon crudites. Three of us, including Pre-Teen Daughter, ordered it. My mom informed our server that all the 'young people' wanted it. Lol... Thank you, Mom, for including me in that description!!!

Ah well, I'm back at home in my little beach community where the sun's shining, the sands dusting, and no one would admit to owning a harp. After wrapping up some much needed office cleaning, I'm going to head outside, and then, maybe later I'll walk to Starbucks for some, um, tea...;)

Chillin' at the beach

So the girls, my mom and I spent yesterday afternoon shopping inland where the air was still and the sun hot. Traffic was heavy and the sun stayed out until the last 1/2 mile or so, when we hit a thick marine layer overhead.

But it's the weekend and what's a little fog between friends? Despite the drop in temp and the brisk breeze, Dan and I decided to hit the beach for a light dinner in the evening. Here's a pic at sunset.