c'mon summer!

Happy Monday! We're counting down in the Carobini household~

* End of school
* Edits of Truffles by the Sea due
* Visit from my brother in law, nephew & niece from Ohio (can't wait!)

So last evening around 7, hub, the girls and I took hot chocolate to the beach to unwind (Teen Son wasn't home). The picture appears much lighter than the sky actually looked. It may be June but we were wearing sweatshirts and gloves (me), while keeping ourselves warm with the cocoa.

Today it's back to the countdown. The kids all have finals and projects to complete. I've got edits to tackle. And the house must be spotless by the time our family arrives from the East. How about you? What are you facing? Any important deadlines?

That's what I thought :) Well then. To all of us, here's to finishing well!

Have you sent yours today :)?

Friday Fotos!

Found this on the beach some time last year (okay, regular readers have seen this one before). With all the tumbling debris and changing tides and romping dogs, it amazed me to find this sand dollar so unbothered, so intact. When I look at it, I think that's how I should be. I belong to God, after all, so shouldn't I be able to handle the shifting sands? The frothing, sometimes tumultous crests? A few rascally dogs?

Yeah, that's what I thought too.

The sun's supposed to peek out again today--Halleluia for that!--so I'm going to tear myself away from this addictive computer and get outside today. If you've got a beachy-themed pic you'd like to share on this blog, send me an email and I'll post it right here and include some linky love :)

Have a fabulous, beachy weekend, my friends!

Newsy news

If you haven't yet signed up for my occasional newsletter, then get crackin' missy. The first issue's almost ready to send out! In it you'll see a preview of the not-yet-seen-before (except by just a handful of peeps) cover of Truffles by the Sea. I'll also be announcing a special, easy way for you to feed a child this summer.

So, chop, chop. The sign up box is to the right, or find it on my website.

Gracias!

How old are you?

I needed this. The days have been gloomy lately, in more ways than weather. I think I need a vacation, and if not that, then to shave a few years off my age. Hm. Yeah, maybe that'll do it. Too bad I narrowly missed 29, though (missed it by that much)...

You Are 30 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

All about meme

Deena over at a A Peek at My Bookshelf tagged me for this literary meme. Here's the scoop:

1. Grab the book closest to you
2. Open it to page 161
3. Find the fifth full sentence
4. Post the text of the sentence to your blog
5. Don't search around for the coolest book you have, use the one that is really next to you.
6. Tag five people to do this meme.

Just so happens I had just cleaned off my desk and the closest book was The Andrew Murray Daily Reader (in Today's Language--love that since Mr. Murray lived in the 1800s :)

Anyway, here's my sentence: Until he declares it, he is not healed.

So as not to leave you hanging, the gist of it is this: Pray specifically.

Amen to that. Now you're all tagged! Let me know what ya come up with :)

Keepin' it real

Happy Tuesday, my friends! Spent the weekend being thankful for all those soldiers out there who made this country such a great place to live and breathe. Hope you all found some time to reflect and be a little lazy, like me.

My son ran across this video recently, and it cracks me up every time I see it. No nasty grams please--a church created it, after all. Just makes me think of all the debates that swirl around those of us who include faith elements in our work. We writers (those I've talked with anyway) are committed to including these elements in the most authentic way we know how, but egads, let's hope Christian Genius guy doesn’t decide to try writing fiction anytime soon. LOL

Anyway, view on:

Friday Fotos! and summer ridin'

Anyone who really knows me, knows that my top "love language" is not receiving gifts. (If you don't know what I'm yakking about, see here.) Don't get me wrong--gifts are great, but if I had the choice between a new handbag or a big smooch from my hubby, I'd take the latter. (Maybe I oughta be writing romance rather than -lit books. Hm.) That said, hubby got me this gift last Christmas, dubbing it my "booksigning" ring. A dolphin leaping through a diamond hoop--who wouldn't just love that? Makes me want to say I Do all over again :) Ya done good, hon!

***
And this cracked me up because the only car I ever swooned over as a teen was a convertible Vdub. Never got one, but apparently my inner teen still pines for the car of my youthful yearnings (you know, the ones where I was carting around all my cool friends instead of bags of groceries and smelly lunch bags. No offense, kids :) Anyway, for your getting-ready-for-summer quizzing pleasure:

Your Summer Ride is a Beetle Convertible

Fun, funky, and a little bit euro. You love your summers to be full of style and sun!

What's Your Summer Ride?

This is her "Now"

Beautiful song, beautiful voice, beautiful person. Congrats, Jordin!

American Midol

This just in...tears and fretting in the Carobini household tonight when Elementary Girl accidentally pressed the wrong digit and voted for--gasp--Blake. Say it ain't so! (Yeah, it's so.)

So hubs has a plan. Should Blake win (near impossible, IMHO) he'll tell Elementary Girl that he read online how Blake won by just one vote.

This is what can happen when a big brother grows up to be a Dad ;-)

Love lifts us up...

Last season, seeing as the Bachelor was an Italian prince and that I'm married to a prince of an Italian myself, I couldn't help but justify watching all episodes of The Bachelor Rome. Turned out the whole thing was a bunch of hooey, so I decided to leave my soul in a better state, and avoid the entire new season altogether.

That lasted until three weeks ago when I cautiously caught an episode of The Bachelor: An Officer and a Gentleman. The usual suspects were in place. A handsome (sort of) bachelor who for whatever reason hadn't yet found Mrs. Right, and three giggly women all vying for a fat ring and plenty of notoriety.

Only one of them wasn't all that giggly. Actually, she seemed reserved and even a bit skeptical herself. While the others kept "putting themselves out there" (the mantra of bachelorettes from years past and present), Tessa kept her emotions more in check than the rest.

It worked. Last night, after Tessa finally told Andy that she loved him, he bent that knee and proposed to her. Marriage, as in, forever. Yeah, I know it's just a show. And frankly, this isn't how it's done. But the romantic in me that swooned over that proposal last night, somehow, hopes that this one sticks.

Overheard at jury duty...

So I mentioned that last week I had jury duty. Did I mention what a real yawn of a day it was? I got dismissed from one jury selection, but they were only looking for an alternate. An. Alternate. Twelve of us in there to interview for a spot that might allow us to vote should one of the real jurors keel over in the middle of the trial ;-)

As I was saying, it was pretty dull. Unless you're a writer, looking for stories, like moi. In that case, it was fairly exciting because I overheard the following in the jury waiting room:

--A medical professional who treated clients at home--until a neighbor turned said medical professional in.
--A chatty clairvoyant.
--A spouse ditching work to hang out with their spouse on jury duty.

...and more. Needless to say, I'll be busy writing this week, lol.

***

Speaking of writing, check out this Publisher's Weekly article profiling five new authors, including Kathryn Cushman, whose debut novel, A Promise to Remember (Bethany House) releases in the fall. Check out her list of favorite authors (she says, blushing profusely).

For your Sunday quizzing pleasure...

You Are a Believer

You definitely believe in God - and you're unwavering in your beliefs. In fact, religion and spirituality are definitely big parts of your life. Religion shapes how you view right and wrong, as well as the decisions you make. It's hard for you to imagine how your life would be without your belief in God.

Are You an Atheist, Agnostic or a Believer?

Friday Fotos! and duty free...

I'm free! Served my one day of jury duty, then they let me go-woohoo! So I'm back to compiling that beach reads list for the summer. See this post for some recommendations from my commenters. In the meantime, Happy Friday.

If you'd like to submit a beach-themed pic for next week's Friday Fotos, drop me an email via my website.

Just doing my civic duty

On a seriously brief break from jury duty at the moment, but couldn't keep my thoughts about American Idol to myself any longer. About last night--are they kidding? Melinda Doolittle was sent home? Feeling kinda ashamed of my fellow Americans at the moment.

Some criminal out there better hope I don't get picked for a jury today. I'm in a hangin' mood.

O, Gilmore Girls, How Do We Love Thee...

We interrupt our regularly scheduled American Idol coverage to bring you this announcement: Waaahhh! Gilmore Girls, the series, has ended. It hardly seems so.

Rather than recap the finale, I'll let Gilmore Girl Fanatic do that for you. But first, indulge me this sweet memory of our family's introduction to Lorelai & Rory, won't you?

See, it all started the first summer after GG's debut season. Hubs couldn't get away that year for a real vacation, so I cooked up a plan to rent a beach house in a nearby town for one balmy week. I figured he could work and the kids and I could play. That's fair, don't ya think? Turns out the house we rented was owned by someone in the TV biz. I know this because of all the Emmy screeners we found in his cabinet. Screeners are copies of shows--without commercials--that members of the academy view so they can vote for their fave. Anyway, this guy had a bunch of these screeners in his cabinet, so each night, as the waves danced outside our window, we curled up on the sofa and watched something new.

That's when we discovered our pals, Lorelai and Rory. It was magical. Hear the waves lapping? See the moon glowing? Stay with me here...

Over the years we've watched Rory grow up, become bff with former nemisis Paris, and even make a switcheroo and head to Yale instead of Harvard. We've seen Lorelai fall in and out of love (Max, some guy I can't remember, Chris and Luke), and we cheered when she and Sooki finally opened an Inn of their own.

There were bumps in the road, some things we didn't like nor agree with, but so it is in life. We offer perspective and grace, then move on. Am I sighing out loud yet?

Anyway, tonight was tougher than I thought. I've never cried over a TV series ending before, I mean, c'mon it's just a show! But in a way, this one represented more for me, somehow. I got caught up in the moment. It's as if I were transported back in time to that weeklong trip some six-ish years ago, to a lazy carefree week (okay, for everyone but hubs), when we discovered the bond between a hip mom and her precocious daughter.

As it happens, Pre-teen daughter and I lay shoulder to shoulder last night on the couch, sniffling throughout the final episode, and I realized: this summer she'll become Teen Girl. Next she'll be off to high school, then college, then, like Rory, out of the nest and into adulthood.

Man, I'm gonna miss that show.

Summer Reads

It's mid-May and I'm between books and waiting for edits on one and--woohoo--dreaming of building a stack of reads for lazy summer days at the beach. Already read Billerbeck's Split Ends and Gutteridge's Scoop ('cuz I'm impatient). So what's on your list? (Other than Chocolate Beach, that is. LOL)

Tell me, tell me...

randomosity...

Christy Award Nominees have been announced. You can find them on Becky's site.

***

I've started and re-started several posts today, but I'm just too jazzy-jazzed over a new book idea to stay focused on blogging. Sawwwy! So for your quizzing pleasure, I give you the latest from Blogthings:

Arty Kid

Whether you were a drama freak or an emo poet, you definitely were expressive and unique. You're probably a little less weird these days - but even more talented!

Who Were You In High School?

Friday Fotos!, plus enter to win a copy of Chocolate Beach

Took this pic last year on a trip to Santa Catalina with Pre-Teen Daughter's middle school class. The island sits about 26 miles from the LA area, and it's breathtaking! I run this photo today because, sadly, a brush fire's moving through the island at the moment, and threatening to level the small town of Avalon. This is the second large Southern Cal fire in less than a week. Pre-Teen Daughter made some friends from Catalina on a recent camp trip on the mainland, so say a prayer for their safety, okay?

Speaking of islands, remember that trip out to Anacapa I talked about a couple weeks back? (humor me) This here's a pic of a bonafide blowhole, ie, a hole in a sea cliff in which columns of spray are jetted upward (dictionary.com). Anyway, notice how all the 3rd graders stay carefully back from its menacing explosion (yeah right).


***
And look what I found! A link to the CBD.com Chocolate Beach Giveaway I stumbled upon the contest through their monthly newsletter. If you're looking for a fun beach read at a great price (i.e, free), why not enter? Contest ends 5/16. Let me know if you win :)

We're gonna miss you, Lakisha.
God Bless!







updated: Friday Fotos tomorrow. If you've got one to send to me, drop me an email, okay? Remember: beach themes. Can't wait to see what you in the mid-west come up with :)

And looking for a last minute Mother's Day gift? (Yeah, I'm running late too...hope Mom's not reading this :) Chocolate Beach is available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Christian bookstores. Just a thought...:]] although my mom's already read it, lol.

I'm It

A meme's making it's way through the my blogger pals' sites--ack! So I've been tagged by Sharon Hinck and Deena Peterson.

Never was very good at the whole tag thing. I was a swimmer in high school, a runner after that--no team sports in my past. Hopefully I can get it in gear long enough for this.

So. My eight random facts:

1. When I was 12, I took commercial acting lessons (and yes, the camera does add 10 pounds).

2. After one said lesson, I chased Robby Benson down in a Bob's Big Boy parking lot and asked for an autograph (such a cutie).

3. Again when 12, attended a taping of the Donny and Marie Show--and got Donny, Marie and Jay Osmond's autograph (see the pattern here?).

4. I used to be a secret shopper for Taco Bell (Yo quiero...).

5. Used to drive a '66 mustang (yeah, baby!)

6. Spent a week kickin' it up in London with a gal pal about a month before my wedding (cheerio and all thot rot).

7. Found out I was pregnant with baby #1 the day after a 20 mile training run for the LA Marathon (oops).

8. My husband calls me "Jewel" (yeah, say it, say it: Ahhhh...)

Okay, I'm tagging these gals: Vader's Mom, Dawn Kinsler, (who probably won't respond since I forgot to answer her tag a few months back), Pastor Mac, Tickled Pink, Damselfly, and an open invitation to three more out there...if you take the challenge, let us know!

Btw, these are the 'rules':
1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

a girl's gotta eat

Sorry about the no post. Busy day today. On my way to have lunch by the beach with this author. :-)

Talk soon!

Psfft...is this thing on?

Monday update: Just learned about a gliche over at my website. If you've sent an email through the contact form in the last few days, chances are I didn't receive it. So, I'm not ignoring you :-0 If you want to try again, just send it to my first name followed by the 'at' sign followed by my full name dot com. Oh what we do to avoid spammers...

Happy Monday

So for what it's worth, here's my quiz for the day. If you're the creative type, go for it :-)

You Are 78% Creative

You are beyond creative. You are a true artist - even if it's not in the conventional sense of the word. You love creating for its own sake, and you find yourself quite inspired at times.

How Creative Are You?

Friday Fotos!

Got this cool sunset from Jamie. Makes me want to go there.

And here's Jamie and her little possum, the cutie pie. She's dressed for the beach and he's, well, he's not. I'm thinking he oughta wear at least a little sunscreen, don't ya think?

Amanda sent me a link to a whole mess of "beachy" pictures and this one just sort of stuck out to me. I especially like the way her babydoll holds up the sketch pad all serious-like as she studies the big fish.

See more of Amanda's pictures here.

Hub and I braced for the worst last night

...but considering we were right, t'wasn't so bad. Yes, Phil and Chris left Idol last night, no big surprise there. But our girls love Chris so when you know that's coming, ya just brace. Know what I mean?

But they're troopers and they knew. It was time.

First thing this morning, though, Pre-Teen Daughter's asking, "Can we get Idol Tour tickets right away???"

So it's not exactly good-bye Chris, more like 'see ya later.'

***

Thought for today: We are priceless works of art in the eyes of our Master.

--Priscilla Shirer. Nice, huh?

Life truly is a box of...

Chocolates. At least for one winner out there. Anjanette Mensa, come on down! Anjanette's the winner of a 1lb. box of assorted, decadent choco-lots from Trufflehound's Fine Chocolates in downtown Ventura.

Woo-hoo & Congrats!

Thanks to all who participated. Sometime later this year I'll do another giveaway, this time for truffles to celebrate--what else?--the release of Truffles by the Sea.

After the Storm

Turned in my next book, Truffles by the Sea, to Bethany House last night, and here's what piled up while I was writing. Okay, not really. I got this pic from a professional organizer's website. But it's a fairly good representation of my home at the moment (Don't ya think so, kids?) Anyway, yesterday was the final day of my Great Chocolate Giveaway, and I owe somebody some chocolates, I know I do. As soon as I can find my computer, I'll print out the list and randomly choose a winner. But you might want to check back...could be awhile...;-)

Monday Madness

On a deadline, so havta post quick here. Took this little quiz and decided to keep the results since this chick looks so much like me. NOT. Haha--I wish.

Anyway, for your quiz taking pleasure:

You Are 66% Grown Up, 34% Kid

Congratulations, you are definitely quite emotionally mature. Although you have your moments of moodiness, you're usually stable and level headed.

How Emotionally Mature Are You?

Sunday Sentiments

Ever since the Idol Gives Back show last week I've been thinking about the images of suffering people. Pretty sobering show, don't you think? I'm glad the powers that be decided to do something positive with all that mula the show (and cast, and sponsors) rake in. Most people I know can't compete with that and never will, so I wanted to tell you about the organization my fam has given through over the years.

Through Compassion International we've been sponsoring children for more than 16 years. There are five in my family so for the price of two lattes each per month, we can provide meals and schooling for a child. Can't beat it. They've been awarded 4 out of 4 stars for fiscal management by Charity Navigator.

So there's my 2cents. If you're looking for a way to make a difference in a suffering child's life, here's a great idea for you. Easy as a few coffee trips a month.

Friday Fotos!

Aren't these fabulous? These pics came from Julie over at Another Chance Ranch, and don't you just love the name of her blog? Check out these shots, then please go on over and say hey to Julie.

****

Recap:
Well. Yesterday I wrote a long post filled with the many wonders of the sea that we experienced on our little jaunt out to Anacapa Island. I also told the story of how Elementary Girl and I got drenched when our dinghy (from the island to the main boat) nearly capsized--twice. All very exciting stuff BUT my computer froze up, and I lost my work--literary blog masterpiece included. HUGE sigh. (A similar thing happened today when I originally tried to post these photos--grrr.)

Anyway, I had lots of rewriting/editing to do so I moved on. Them's the breaks, I guess.

Before I bid adieu for the weekend, wanted to at least comment on the Idol Gives Back show and the "most shocking" Idol results show ever. You shoulda seen the teeth gnashing in this house when my girls thought Chris might go home. And when it looked like Jordin was on her way out? Let me just say, my Idol watching was just about over. Done! Whew--they had me going, and how about you?

Have a beachy weekend--and don't forget to stop by Another Chance Ranch. Tell Julie I sent ya!

Mussels and urchins and crabs, oh my!

For a college assignment, a few years back, I wrote a 20-page paper on the life of the sea anenome. See? I was destined to write about the beach stuff, don't ya think?

Anyway, this week I'll be taking an excursion out to Frenchy's Cove off Anacapa Island to frolick in the tidepools with elementary girl. Pray for me because I have the sniffles and I don't want to miss this!

Sea life has always fascinated me. Think about it. There's a world of life under the water, and what must that be like? I've been dragging my kids out to tidepools ever since they could walk, actually before they could. You just haven't lived until you've seen the face of a child whose fingers have just been grasped by an anemone's tentacles, or who's found a rough-skinned seastar molded to a rock. Do we have a creative God or what!

Lots of aquariums out there for those of you not living close enough to walk the tides yourselves. Nothing like coming face to face with a shark! (Actually, I avoid those exhibits ;-0 Thank God for thick glass, though, lol. Anyway, if you've been to a good one, drop me a line. And if you've found a tidepool somewhere just brimming with live creatures, let me know that too. Just might want to drag, um, take the family there sometime.

Seeing green

Happy Monday, all! Just got back from the Orange County Spring Writer's Day. Met sooo many new and enthusiastic writers! If you attended, good for you--now get crackin'! LOL

Sunday my fam and I spent the afternoon with Bethany House editors, Dave Long (Acquisitions) and Sarah Long (editing--she edited Chocolate Beach--woo-hoo!) We met up with them and author Kathryn Cushman, along with her lovely family just north of here. Despite drizzly weather, Katie's good-natured husband Lee took us out to sea in the family sailboat. Sweet!

But today I'm back to reality and the book I must edit before sending it to BHP on May 1. So, of course, I'm messing around with blog quizzes. This one caught my attention because of all the "green" buzz around here in California. The inconvenient truth is that green has taken on a whole new meaning, and I'm not convinced anyone really understands the entire scope of it. I'm not into the whole political scene, and I won't be coerced into certain habits just to look the part; however, I do believe in tending to the earth. God said we should, so there you go. Besides, he created it and it's BEAUTIFUL, can I get an Amen?

So here are my results. I especially enjoyed the last line, lol. How appropriate for those who know me. I just hope my editors agree that my "nice personality counteracts any strange habits" that I may have. LOL

You Are Teal Green

You are a one of a kind, original person. There's no one even close to being like you. Expressive and creative, you have a knack for making the impossible possible. While you are a bit offbeat, you don't scare people away with your quirks. Your warm personality nicely counteracts any strange habits you may have.

What Color Green Are You?

Friday Fotos!

Good morning! Vader's Mom sent me this pic of husband Jeff staring at the sea to share with y'all. I forgot to ask her where this was taken, so if you stop by today, VM, would you let us know?

We're having some rain today, but it's always nice to have the gunk cleaned out of the sky. Have a beachy weekend!

p.s. If you have a pic to share for next week, send me a note through my website. Tx.

What I have in common with the 7 Idol Finalists

...and it's not my singing voice. Buh-dum-bump. Actually, I too got the inside tour of Dreamworks studio once. (If you watched last night, you saw the finalists treated to a tour and a first-look at Shrek 3.)

It happened for me about 8.5 years ago when I was asked to review The Prince of Egypt for Aspire magazine out of Nashville (now-defunct. unfortunately.) Anyway, I was 8 months preggo at the time, so my mother naturally concerned for my well-being decides she should accompany on the two-day excursion to the Ritz Carlton in Pasadena. So I waddled around the fancy schmanzy hotel, ate far too much cheese in the hospitality suite, experienced a behind-the-scenes look at Dreamworks, pre-viewed the movie, noshed on a catered meal by candlelight at the studio with other members of The Press. (I dig saying that.) The next day I sat next to Jeffrey Katzenberg and other producers while we writers interviewed them about the movie making biz. All very high-brow and la-te-da and f-u-n. (And need I mention r-a-r-e?) Thank God Mom was there to make sure I was okay :), LOL (You know I'm kidding, Mom. Right?)

So anyway this weekend I'll be teaching some article-writing classes down south. I'll be telling my students that writing is work, that it takes discipline and the willingness to spend long, tedious hours alone on a hard chair (doesn't matter how good the chair is, the bum's unforgiving after a day of writing) in front of an eye-numbing computer screen, that there's very little glamour in it, if any. LOL Hopefully none of them read my blog...

***

p.s. Bye Sanjaya...twas, uh, interesting...

happy tears

Remember the opening of the old movie Romancing the Stone? Novelist Joan Wilder has just written the final scene of her latest romance and we find her sobbing recklessly over her typewriter (it was the mid-80s, people). I've always remembered that scene. It's sentimental, quirky, even kind of funny. So anyway, I mention this because I just wrote the final scene of Truffles by the Sea, my book due out in early 2008, and let me just say Somebody pass the Kleenex!

Here's to happy endings (but don't ask me what happens 'cuz I'm not tellin'). We could all use some of that, am I right?

***

American Idol update: If I were a betting gal--which I'm not--I'd say that Sanjaya's going home tonight. Nothing personal, but truly great talents are emerging on this show, so let's get serious here.

Yay for Grace

Ever had one of these mornings? Girls' first day back at school. Up late. Can't find sunglasses (either pair), nor hat (had morning hair). Rush off, shielding watery eyes from sunshine. Meeting friend for coffee, only she's late. So I sit and wait. She calls my cell because she's waiting at that other coffee place. Oops. Lots to do today, so...

Here's to starting over :-)

Sunday Chocolate

Only about two weeks left to sign up for my occasional newsletter, and possibly win yourself a ONE POUND box of decadent chocolates. Details on my website or just sign up on my sidebar. Easy as, well, I was going to say pie but seriously, is pie all that easy to make? Suffice to say, I wouldn't know, lol. Mi poor familia. (Okay, it's not that bad, I do buy pie occasionally :) Anyway, don't miss out on your chance at a free box of Trufflehound choco-lots. Ad over :)

Relax. Slow down. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, 'cuz God is good.

TGI Friday Fotos

Here's a peek a boo pic from a recent trip up the California coast. Come on back each Friday for a new Ahhh moment. Have a beach-themed pic you'd like me to feature? (You mid-west folks will have to get creative, but I know you can do it!) First post it on your site and then send me an email with the link. If there's room, I'll post it here and link back to you.

Have a beachy weekend, Friends :)

Those legs were made for walkin'...

So last night, we bid adieu to Haley Scarnato, who proved that hot pants are never out of style...

unless of course I'm wearing them ;-0

Thanks, Julie!

May I have a drumroll please? I've just received my very first blogger award (crowd cheers). I'm honored to announce that I've received the thinking blogger a w a r d complements of Julie at Another Chance Ranch. Considering I've got a deadline looming, two classes to teach next week, PMS in a bad way (would that be considered oversharing?), and I. can't. think. at. all. anymore, this is a tremendous honor! So thanks, Julie! If you've not been to her site, go on over and say, Hey.

Now, I believe this is the part where I pass along this honor to five just as thinking blogger friends. Thinking, thinking (I feel like Winnie the Pooh here). Hm. This is a toughie, but here goes. (And don't get all miffed if I don't pick you, sheesh):

Geekwif. One of my very first visitors ever she can discuss the meaning of "religion" and her visit to the laundromat in the snow, all on the same page.

Amanda. We're passing the compliments these days, she and I. But how can I not mention a gal who actually sent me a card by snail mail? A lost art, I tell you.

Robin. Oh, how I miss her old template, but her posts rock. And she's older than me, hee-hee.

Sarakastic. "Sara" and I share a similar passion for (obsession with?) Gilmore Girls. And really, great friends are born over series TV, am I right?

Virginia. She makes me laugh! (And she criticizes because she cares.)

Congratulations one and all!

Feel that Conga!

C'mon everybody! Okay so the performances were less than stellar last night on American Idol, but the music! Arriba! The contestants, coached by JLo, were given Latin music as the genre of the night, a style that's fast and fun and sparked dance fever in my household. So I was the only one dancing? I am a Navarro after all. Yeah baby, the Latin blood in me just took over (much to the chagrin of my children, who have a mere 1/4 of said South American blood in their veins.)

Of course, they'll tell you it wasn't the manifestation of Latin moves that brought shame on the household, but my interpretation of the genre. Whatever.

Never been much of a JLo fan but found her cute and even pretty astute. After all, she said that Simon might even enjoy Sanjaya's performance this week--and she was right! Yeah, that pretty much surprised us all, didn't it?

***

It's my birthday today, so have an extra truffle today. I know I will :)

Mental vacation

Okay, so today the sun's shining but I've got to work. What's up with that? Sigh. On the upside, my publisher sent me a couple of newer reviews of Chocolate Beach, the kind that make my heart do the happy dance. If you're interested you kind read them at cwahm.com and ck2skwipsandkritiques.com

On another note, little brother Mikey and his new bride Rita just returned from their honeymoon to Bora Bora, and I'm incredibly jealous. They entertained us with tales of crystal clear waters, swimming with harmless stingrays, private tours of motus, and fab food. Who wouldn't be envious of that? So, in honor of their exotic taste in travel, I took this little quiz--and you can too :)

Your Travel Personality is: Spoiled

You're not spoiled in your everyday life, so you sure like to be spoiled when your on vacation.You prefer to splurge on nice hotels, fancy meals, and luxury transportation.Even if it means you're only able to get away every few years!

What's" Your Travel Personality?

The Son's Out

Okay, so I had another post all ready for you, but the video I'd linked just won't work, so movin' on. Taking the rest of the weekend off from blogging, but wanted to say Happy Easter! It's hazy here in SoCal, but it doesn't really matter does it? The thought of the Savior dying and rising again for me (and You!) kinda makes the sun shine no matter what, don't you think?

Have a good one. And if you're into videos, I just ran across this fun site. Hopefully you'll find it easier to link to...

When in doubt...

eat chocolate :)

Got up in the dark this a.m. and was interviewed on the radio, Kansas time. Had fun, only I can't remember exactly what I said. Anyone who really knows me, knows that I'm a night owl. This has been the problem when my pal Deb and I travel together. She's one of those It's-morning-and-the-birdies-are-singing kinds of gals, whereas I prefer to welcome midnight with an engrossing book, then sleep right on through till noon. Not like I can do it very often, but I'd prefer it.

Anyway, I'm nearly finished with Truffles by the Sea, and my heroine Gaby's a morning girl too. So you'd have thought that writing her would have prepped me better for my early morning radio stint. Sadly, no. If anyone out there happened to hear me and my groggy-I've-had-too-much-coffee voice, well, sorry, lol.

One thing I've discovered, though, about this getting up at 5-ish thing: by 8, it's practically mid-day, so you can eat chocolate with no regrets.

Nosh on...

Announcements, announcements

It's 10 am and I've had a good night's sleep and a latte. So much to digest after such a busy week, and I'm determined not to turn my back on all I learned at the writer's conference. Easy to do, ya know? How many times have you attended some sort of class, come back fired up, only to fall back into the same old pattern?

Yeah, me too.

My kids are on break this week, and Easter day needs some planning, but I do plan to get into my notes TODAY and incorporate some of the great stuff I learned about writing and faith into my next novel, which just so happens to be re-titled....are you ready for this?....

Truffles by the Sea

What do you think?

On a separate note, for those of you in the SC/KS/OC areas, I'll be interviewed by Kelly Long tomorrow morning LIVE on radio station KREJ. Keep in mind my friends that it'll be 6:15 AM my time. Listen with caution :)

Writer of the Year...

went to my good (end cap) buddy, Sharon Hinck! Tonight was awards and autographs at Mt. H and Sharon won the top prize--how cool is that? Congrats, my friend! You deserve it.

After the final night's session, we headed over to the dining hall for a booksigning and brownies, the perfect atmosphere for buying Chocolate Beach, lol. A few actually did too :)

Tomorrow: closing workshops and session followed by lunch. Then home again, home again (jiggity jig!) Just in time for this week's Idol performances...

Until then--peace!

Hello from Mt. Hermon!

It's like I've gone from one great family gathering to another. My brother Mikey and his beautiful bride, Rita, were happily married last night, so this a.m. I headed to the Santa Cruz area to catch up with the Mt. Hermon writer's conference. Got here about 10:30, after way too much coffee, and immediately caught up with writing-buds Sharon Hinck and Camy Tang and Patti Hill.

I've been attending this conference for years, usually fretting through the whole thing hoping not to have spinach stuck in my teeth while pitching an idea to an editor. Thank God for the friends God has brought me along the way. Like Erica Faraone who I haven't seen in ten years but who I've email prayed with many times (she sang beautifully tonight, btw). And Barbara Curtis, who I've admired ever since my first conference when I found out that the mother of 12 sells hundreds of articles a year (she's blogging tonight too, btw). Then there's Kathryn Cushman, a new Bethany House author and friend who lives just a half hour from me, and who saved me from the effects of too much onions for lunch with a Listerine tab (thanks, Katie!) Also got re-aqcuainted with Jenn Doucette. Haven't read her work yet, but I hear that her books are funny. After having dinner with her tonight, I so get that. And did I mention that Becky Miller and I yakked by the side of the road for nearly an hour tonight?

Learned a few things about writing too, but I'm too pooped at the moment to remember exactly what. I'll make notes next time and get back to ya...:-)

Tomorrow's Palm Sunday--God Bless!

Goin' to the chapel...

Busy, busy! Little brother's marrying Rita on Friday (yahoo!) and all three of my kiddos are in the wedding...leaving for the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer's Conference...packing up Teen Son for a mission's trip with YWAM...trying to breathe...but had a fabulous eyebrow wax yesterday, so all is well, lol.

Before heading off, I'll be stopping at Tiffany Amber Miller's place, so please, grab your beach towel and come on by.

p.s. If you're interested in the doings at Mt. H, I'll try to post some highlights over the weekend. They've got great wireless access in the coffee house, so posts will probably be highly-caffeinated ;-)

Psst...over here

Had a celebrity sighting on my blog yesterday. Heather Ivester popped in to say that she's giving away a copy of Chocolate Beach on her site--but you gotta tell her what kind of chocolate you like first. I've loved her site since the beginning of (blogging) time, so I'm honored ;-*)

What I'm doing instead of writing

LOL, this cracked me up. Keep in mind I love my husband, I love my husband, I love my husband...

Your 80s Heartthrob Is

Kirk Cameron

Who's Your 80's Heartthrob?

Congrats to...

Amanda! You just won a new copy of Valley of Betrayal, by Tricia Goyer. Please send me your snail mail address via my website and I'll get it right out to you (excuse the formality, but the web contact form helps fight the dreaded spammers...)

Through my window I'm watching several mighty palm trees leaning against a blue and white sky, and I'm thinking of playing hooky and hitting the beach. But, no. Can't do it today. Bummer. Makes me think of the recent conversation hubby and I had about a trip to Hawaii next October. Can you believe we've never been there? Such a sheltered life we lead ;-)

Anyway, we'll only have a week, so if you've been there, where should we go for our first-ever Hawaiian getaway? We're taking the whole fam so keep these particulars in mind: Hubby likes fine dining, mama likes lounging on the beach, teen son likes sailing, pre-teen daughter absolutely must have good shopping, and elementary girl likes to swim.

What say you?

Win Tricia's Book

Said bye to Stephanie last night on American Idol and I think it was too soon. Only one will win, but her vocals were so much stronger than several others, don't you think? This is when we start to see the popularity aspect of the show rather than the talent factor. Kind of like life. Hm.


On to better things...
Hey all history buffs! The other day my buddy, the talented Tricia Goyer guested on this blog to tell us about her new book, Valley of Betrayal. I'll be randomly picking someone from TODAY'S comments to win a free-free-free copy of this first book in Tricia's series, Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War. Stop on by tomorrow to see who's won.


Lately, some pretty nice reviews of Chocolate Beach have popped up in cyberspace--and I didn't even pay 'em, ha! Seriously, I'm sooo grateful for the time so many people have taken to actually read and then write about my first "baby." Really, really, really grateful! I've posted two recent reviews here: titletrakk and deena's books


Okay, off to work...

Sun's out--surf's up!

Yo! So check it out, Dog.

Had a fabulous post all ready for you last night, fabulous I tell you--and lost it. Sigh. Okay, tonight, it's the final 10. Will Sanjaya finally be voted off? Will Phil's screaming ways be turned away? Or will Stephanie, who had a rough night, be packin' her bags? And what did you all think about that lulu of a Lulu? Or Peter Noone's kindly ways? So cool that I'm too young to be familiar with either one of those 60s singers, lol.

If you've no idea what I'm talking about, sawwy. This year's Idol doesn't quite have the edge of last year's edition--Remember Ace's eyes? Elliott's makeover? McFever? Yeah, baby, those were the days. So far, it's been a little ho hum, but still kinda fun anyway, so the fam and I will be gathering around the flat screen tonight to see the results. And you?

Sing it

Crunch time around here with my brother's wedding just around the bend. All 3 kiddos are in it which for the girls means shoes! dresses! hair! nails! makeup! and for the boy: a suit. So not fair.

Anyhoo, we've had misty fog around here for a week, but do we let this get us down? Nah--okay, a little. But I look at it this way, if it were hot and sunny, I'd want to be out there instead of doing all the stuff I've got to do.

Speaking of beaches (we were, weren't we?), I've been invited to hang at a new cyber-beach pad today. New to me, but maybe not to you? Please stop by singalullaby and say hello to my new friend on the net! She's a sweetie!

Happy American Idol Tuesday :)

Will work for chocolate

FREE CHOCOLATE Need I say more? LOL Sign up to receive my occasional newsletter (see sidebar) and you just might win yourself a 1 lb. box of scrumptuous chocolates. (And no, these aren't the virtual kind, hah.) You can also sign up on my home page at www.juliecarobini.com (and read the details there too.)

But don't leave yet...because author and new blogger, Annette Irby, has invited me for a chat on her cyber-beach blanket. Come on by and welcome her to the blogosphere, okey dokey?

Happy Monday--only 4 days left until Friday :)

Welcome, Guest Blogger, Tricia Goyer!

Tricia and I have been friends since the mid-90s when we met as newbie writers at the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer's Conference. Her talent, humility, prayerfulness, and friendship (yeah, I could go on and on about her!) have inspired me ever since. She's got a new book out and I thought I'd let her tell you the story behind it in her own words:

A few years ago when I was researching for my fourth World War II novel, Arms of Deliverance, I came across a unique autobiography. One B-17 crewmember I read about claimed to make it out of German-occupied Belgium after a plane crash due, in part, to skills he picked up as a veteran of The Spanish Civil War. Reading that bit of information, I had to scratch my head. First of all, I had never heard of the war. And second, what was an American doing fighting in Spain in the late 1930s? Before I knew it, I uncovered a fascinating time in history—one that I soon discovered many people know little about. This is what I learned:

Nazi tanks rolled across the hillsides and German bombers roared overhead, dropping bombs on helpless citizens. Italian troops fought alongside the Germans, and their opponents attempted to stand strong—Americans, British, Irishmen, and others—in unison with other volunteers from many countries. And their battleground? The beautiful Spanish countryside.

From July 17, 1936-April 1, 1939, well before America was involved in World War II, another battle was fought on the hillsides of Spain. On one side were the Spanish Republicans, joined by the Soviet Union and The International Brigade—men and women from all over the world who had volunteered to fight Fascism. Opposing them, Franco and his Fascist military leaders, supported with troops, machinery, and weapons from Hitler and Mussolini. The Spanish Civil War, considered the “training ground” for the war to come, boasted thousands of American volunteers who joined to fight on the Republican side--half never returned home.

Unlike World War II, there is no clear line between white and black, good and evil. Both sides committed atrocities. Both sides had deep convictions they felt worth fighting and dying for. And while history books discuss the estimated one million people who lost their lives during the conflict, we must not forget that each of those who fought, who died, had their own tales. From visitors to Spain who found themselves caught in the conflict, to the communist supporters, Basque priests, and Nazi airmen . . . each saw this war in a different light. These are the stories behind

A Valley of Betrayal.

Tricia Goyer, October 2006

Oh Sun and Sand, Where Art Thou?

Last Sunday's baking 85+ degree weather was an abberation, an abberation, I tell you! Sigh. The sky's been mucky all week. On the upside, I've got writing goals to meet, and wouldn't have gotten out there to enjoy it anyway.

But here's the thing: The beauty of cyber tours is I can beach hop and nosh on bon bons in my home office, no matter the weather. So can YOU! It's a beautiful thing. So I wanted to let you know that tour stops continue to be added to The List, so please take a sec and check out where I'll be and when.

Thanks again to all my hosts! Here's a chocolate kiss for ya'll--mu-waah!

Hey CJ!

Say hello to CJ! We met a couple of weeks ago on my "mini-tour" of bookstores along the coast. Though working alone on a busy day at Parable, CJ threw out the welcome mat for me (& my gift of chocolates, natch) by buying my book on the spot--and "encouraging" another customer to buy one. (She did; I signed them both) Never mind that said customer came in to buy one of Davis Bunn's books, LOL. (Don't look at me like that...she bought both :-)

Tell me your adventures!

Good Morning! To say that I've had less time to blog than usual would be quite the understatement, don't you think? As my heroine Bri would say, sheesh!

Because of a crazy schedule last week which included writing 8k words, chaperoning two all day fieldtrips, attending a school open house, observing two cotillions, accompanying friend and fella-writer Kathryn Cushman to a celebrity authors luncheon (alas, we were spectators and not participants...), hub and I decided to do the Sunday warrior thing. So after church we kayaked for a couple of hours then headed out for ice-blended coffees and a stop at the beach to visit friends. Nothing like squishing all the fun into a few short hours. Ho hum. I'm pooped! And it's Tuesday!

Started all over again yesterday. Can you relate? Most people I know can. I guess that's why I'm actually scheduling breaks. Like yesterday when I crashed coma-like onto my bed in the mid afternoon. Ten minutes, but oh!, how fab to just turn out the world for awhile.

Okay, so I'm rambling. (Tired people do that.) Let's do this. You tell me what you're doing for Easter/Spring Break this year. I'll be writing like wild, so entertain me with your adventures so I can live vicariously through you. Tell me, tell me.

We have ourselves a winner!

The party's over, but the glow remains. Pre-teen daughter did the honors tonight by randomly choosing one name from all the party comments, so Congrats! to Julie Arduini, who isn't me but whose name is seriously close to mine. Julie's the winner of an autographed copy of Chocolate Beach.
Woo-hoo!

Life's getting hectic, so let's all take this moment to breathe in the view. Ahhh...

Have a peaceful day :-)

Singin' the blues

So yesterday I had a Lorelai and Sookie moment when Elementary Girl and I were seated in the very last row of the ginormous local civic arts theater. Tissues for nosebleeds anyone? Remember that sort of 80s flashback episode where the Gilmore Girls bopped on over to NY city to see the Bangles? Lorelai and Sookie gave up their seats to Rory and friends, and had to settle for the top section. They snorted and laughed through the whole from-a-distance show, much to the chagrin of the other paying customers stuck around them. Ho hum, funny stuff.

Anyway, we were on a fieldtrip and I just kept questioning the wisdom of seating hundreds of 3rd graders in a steep balcony, but hey, I wasn't in charge (Their bad :). Thankfully the performance topped the seating arrangements.

Speaking of performances, anyone else disappointed in this year's Idol offerings? Just seems that thousands of auditioners should have produced some stronger vocals. But who knows? Maybe the boys'll get some training over the next few weeks and surprise us. Trust me when I say that I will be surprised if a guy wins this year.

Enough of this frivolity. I'm off to write another 2k words, and brainstorm a title...(and scrounge around for my stash of truffles -]] )

Chat with my end cap buddy!

Today I'm talking with author, friend, and end-cap buddy, Sharon Hinck! Sharon and I met last year at the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer's Conference and quickly became friends. Sharon's the author of The Secret Life of Becky Miller, and the recently released, Renovating Becky Miller. Please follow this link to read the first part of our chat. Then c'mon back for the last half. We hope you have as much fun as we're having :]]

****

In answer to Sharon's question:

Julie: Hey thanks, Sharon! Yes, I think I always have loved to write. It’s in my blood, I guess. My grandfather owned a Spanish newspaper, and he also wrote for La Opinion. My father wrote freelance and recently self-published a book on Silent Films, and my mother writes freelance (and inspires me daily!). As far as my recent reads? I loved Renovating Becky Miller, and I’m not just saying that! Some interesting perspective in there on how ministry can turn into marketing and how poor Becky has to rise above it. I also loved how Becky daydreamed about movies, with her as the main character—lol. Oddly enough, I was able to guess just about every movie in there without flipping to the list in the back. Right now, I’m also reading The Mitford Bedside Companion, by Jan Karon. Love it! Of course, I’ve got a stack of others I’d love to get to…sigh.

And Sharon! I’ve heard that we’ll be endcap buddies at stores in the near future! How fun is that? But guess what? I stopped at the Parable Stores in both San Luis Obispo and Atascadero—and we were already hanging out together! Here’s a pic of my mother, Elaine, and me, next to an endcap display of our books (And nope, I did not set this up. They were like that when I got there! -]]



Cool, huh?

Sharon: Very cool!

Julie: Now that our “babies” are growing up and coming into their own, what’s up next for you, Sharon? Still writing? (ha!) Still loving it? Give me the scoop!

Sharon: My next novel, The Restorer, releases in May from NavPress, the first of a series, with book two coming out in September, book three in January, and then two more stand-alone novels coming out with Bethany House in 2008. How about you? When’s the next story coming out? What’s it about? Do tell!

Julie: Um, you’re busy, girlfriend. Congrats on all of it, and may you find peace and rest!

My next story will be out in early 2008. The title’s currently in a state of flux, but it involves seashells and bon bons—yum!—so really, what else do you need to know? LOL Anyway, it’s second in the Ventura beach series, this time focusing on Bri’s best pal, Gaby, who after a series of near catastrophes, resolves to be Gullible No More! Other stories are also in the works, so feel free to pop in and visit my beachy website for updates anytime: www.juliecarobini.com. You can also sign-up to receive news on my home page.

Had a blast, Sharon! Let’s do this again, sometime, okay? Thanks to all who’ve stopped by today, too. WE APPRECIATE YOU!

You're invited

I just joined the party! You can too. The gals over at 5minutesformom.com are throwing a party and everyone's invited. Go on over and you might win a cool prize. But don't leave yet! If you leave me a comment at this post between today and March 9, I'll enter your name in a drawing for an autographed copy of Chocolate Beach! (If you're new here, Chocolate Beach is my debut novel, released just a few short weeks ago.) Summer's coming, so join the fun! Sunscreen not required :)

longing for lazy days

Woo-hoo, it's Friday! Love that. Got back last night and the family gathered around the flat screen for the latest Idol installment. So sad to see AJ go. Just wasn't time for him yet, we thought. Btw, on my mini tour I stopped at two stores in his home town of Santa Maria, CA. He's got a strong voice and sweet personality...but something tells me America's 11 year old girls had taken over the phone lines for Sanjaya. Sigh.

What say you?

Anyway, I'm longing for some beachside reading sans responsibility but life's just not always like that, you know? I long for it anyway. I've got a growing stack of fiction to read, just for fun. Maybe when the house is clean, the next book's done, my kids' projects are all finished, yada yada yada--Calgon, take me away!

What do you long to have time for?