Thoughts on Idol

UPDATED: Who do you think'll go home tonight? Hard call, but I'm going to guess ... Siobhan. (I like her ~ just a guess!)

Okay, so last year (and the year before, and so on...), readers could pop in here after American Idol and we'd discuss the group of contestants, i.e., who rocked, who didn't, who might go home, etc., etc. But I don't know...this year's kind of dull. Maybe I've still been missing Paula, as I mentioned in this post earlier this season. Or maybe I've been sore that Alex Lambert got kicked off too earlier, as mentioned in this post. Or maybe the competition has just grown tiresome.

What do you think?

That said, I think Casey James is a cutie (and yes, dh knows I think this), and that Lee's got some interesting chops. I think Casey, Lee and Crystal are the ones with distinct voices, and that because of that, one of them will win it.

Just yesterday, teen daughter and I were driving along (and did I mention that she got her driving permit last week ???), and we heard a new song on the radio. We stopped talking and listened. "I know that voice," I said. It sounded warm and familiar. "Yeah, that's Kris Allen," she replied. I sat back. "Of course!"

So I guess we're watching with a more critical ear these days :-) ... how about you?

A favor ... and the view

Heard it through the email grapevine yesterday that the ACFW Book Club is voting on the August book selection and ~A SHORE THING ~ made the list (woot :). Would you consider voting for it? You have to be a book club member, and it's FREE to join. Just send a blank e-mail to: acfwbookclub-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Then head on over to the yahoo book club site, click on "polls" (& vote for A Shore Thing :)) THANKS for considering this!

Okay, on to other things. We spent much of the weekend inland watching our youngest play in a soccer tourney. Let me just say ~ we got some sun! We're talking you-have-to-wear-a-tank-top-&-flip-flops-weather! But then we rolled back onto the coast and right into ... FOG. By the brrr in the air, you would have never guessed that we had sweltered much of the day beneath a gigantic heat lamp in the sky.

But as the saying goes, it's all good. (Am I the only one who hears that all the time???) Thinking about the different climates as close as my backyard, reminded me of other differences. Like this photo of the Atlantic Ocean from reader Wendy. Years ago, our fam rented a house in Nags Head on the Outer Banks and experienced the differences, like high humidity and a sun that rises out of water.

Whaa? Where we live along the west coast, people descend on the beaches at night to watch the sun sink into the sea, but on the east coast, it's all about the sunrises! Super fun for a visit when all the deadlines and other work brouhaha has been set aside, but since I'm NOT a morning person, this would never do on a regular basis ;-)) You?

Beachy Pennsylvania

Published poet, songwriter and author (and photographer :), Wendy, sent in this charming photo taken at Rickett Glen State Park, Pennsylvania. My husband Dan's from PA, but I'd never heard of this beautiful area so I checked and it's in the Northeast. Hubby's from the Northwest of the state.

26 miles of hiking, including a BEACH trail that wends around a lake! I think I know where we'll be visiting on our next trip back east ... :)

Thanks Wendy of the Promotingandme blog for sending in this pic (and the others that will posted before summer!).

Have you taken any photos of a snowy beach? I'd love to share them and your link on this blog. Send them to julie at juliecarobini dot com.

HAPPY Monday Tuesday! Finished up two big deadlines this weekend and somehow missed posting yesterday. The good news is that, after some tweaking, my 2011 release is now off to my editor, Karen (woot!) And after another proofing, my July 2010 release A Shore Thing, is off to the printers.

Speaking of A Shore Thing, B&H Books, decided to add some pizazz to the cover. Instead of plain white lettering, aqua and coral now splash across the front. I'm told that when it's all spiffed up and printed, the seastar and the water will be "sparkly" ~ perfect to sit on coffee tables everywhere (wink, WINK :)

Reviews are already circulating. You can see some of them here: A Shore Thing: Otter Bay Series #2

Come back tomorrow when I'll be posting a couple of go-jus seaside photos sent in from reader Wendy. Until then, have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are :-)

Seeing the light ...

Maya over at Completely Coastal sent me this photo of Castle Hill Lighthouse in Newport, Rhode Island. Beautiful! I've had a book in me about a lighthouse, so maybe this is a sign :-)

It looks like sunset to me, but could it be daybreak? Maybe Maya will pop in later and let us know.

Also wanted to announce that the winner of the 'small-talk' sign from juliesbeachshop.com is ... LAURA LANG. Congrats, Laura! Thanks to all who signed up for my occasional newsletter. Watch for fun exclusives in your inbox soon!

And have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are :)

Here comes the judge ...

Remember back in school when the teacher would start a story with just one line? And as it went around the class room each student took a turn to add to it? Remember how funny they would get or how cool they would sound? Now it's available on a blog. Join in! Have some fun! Share your creativity!

That's the lead in to Tamara's Ad-Libbing Blog, and this week, she's holding a contest for the best lines that add to a story. Fun part for me is I get to judge :) Fun part for the winner? They'll receive $25 to Amazon (woot!)

So ... lots to win this week. Subscribe to my mailing list and you might receive a cool beach sign (see post below). Give ad-libbing a try and you might win bucks to Amazon.

On another note, our water heater blew out this weekend and the water's been so brrrr. But the plumbers are here now so woo-hoo, hot water is on its way. Off to grab a shower, and wash some dishes, and do the laundry ... ah, necessities!

I'll check in on the contests soon, though, so have f-u-n with those. And have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are!

Happy Birthday to Me ...

and a gift for one of you! Sign up on my blog sidebar or website for my occasional newsletter and be entered to win this 'small talk' sign available in Julie's Beach Shop. This 8.5″ wide x 2.75" tall reads: May you always have a shell in your pocket & sand in your shoes.

Is that cute or what?!

This giveaway ends Wednesday, April 14 at noon 'cuz I'm getting ready to send out some news soon. If you're already a subscriber to my newsletter, THANKS and don't despair! I plan to offer more giveaways in the near future.

Have a beautiful and beachy Sunday, my friends ~ wherever you are :)

Caron's Beach Photo

Meet fellow beachcomber Caron, a Twitter friend and the author of the warm and happy Everything Coastal blog. She recently moved from the Pacific northwest to the Bay area of California and runs an online shop called Caron's Beach House with to-die-for coastal decor. Caron sent me this photo from a recent weekend visit to Stinson Beach, just north of San Francisco.

"I always think that kids are so wonderful to watch at the beach," she said, "No fear of the wave, the cold or the wet sand."

I totally agree, Caron. Thanks for sharing your photo with us!

spring break at the beach

So busy writing and traveling these days that I sort of forgot spring break started this week. Tons to do, and yet the weather has been warm and the kids are home, so we've taken advantage of the extra minutes away from school (and work for me). I posted one of these pics on my Facebook page yesterday from my visit to a friend-of-a-friend's beach pad in Carpinteria. Oh!...to move there forever. I think heaven'll have a view like this, don't you? :) Seriously, the photos just don't do justice to this quintessential beach cottage!

Ah, well. Couple of things for you today ~

SuperMom is giving away a copy of Sweet Waters via her blog, What You Reading Now? Stop by, peruse her blog, and leave a comment, and you might win a copy to read on the beach/lake/cruise/etc. this summer :)

Also, thanks to those who've sent their beach photos. I've got room for more, so keep 'em coming! Make sure to send me the link to your blog or website too so I can post that along with your photo. The first submission goes up this Friday.

In the meantime, have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are!

Wanted: Your Beach Photos

The sun is out on the central coast, and it has inspired me to clean up my house and yard. Something about those warm rays of sunshine gets me motivated to throw on some flip flops and give my home a (loooong overdue) makeover. Okay, so far I've only gotten through one room, but at least it's a start!

But some bloggity friends live in areas where the sun's still playing hide and seek, so I thought it would be fun to inspire them from afar ... with YOUR photos. Have one you'd like to share with us? If you've been on a beach vacation or live near the water ... even a lake, feel free to send a snapshot to julie (at) juliecarobini (dot) com. Or maybe you're one of those still socked in by snow. If you have a picture from a beach trip, send it on. I'll do my best to post them between now and summer, along with a link to your blog.

Okay, I'll start. This is a pic from our recent trek to Santa Monica for my daughter's beach soccer tourney. I stood at the edge of the pier and snapped this shot north toward Malibu. GREAT weekend in So Cal!

Send me those pics! And have a beachy day, my friends ~ wherever you are :)

Halleluia

Enjoy your family, friends and blessings today.

Happy Easter!

up in the trees

Hey Friends! Spent a week in the beautiful northern California redwoods at Mt. Hermon. With so much to do at the writer's conference, I was thankful for all that fresh oxygen and easy-on-the-eyes scenery around me!

My mom, Elaine Navarro, and I shared a room that had a view of towering trees. Ahhhh! What I love about this area is that we're in the mountains, but the beach is a mere 10-15 min. drive away. Crazy, huh?

While I was away, SuperMom posted a review of Sweet Waters over at her What You Reading? blog. If you haven't had a chance to pick up my latest beach read, stop on over and leave a comment ~ you might win a copy, gratis!

Off to cook dinner for the fam. Have a beachy Friday, my friends, wherever you are :)