My Little Pony – Applejack

I had a hard time coming up with a guilty pleasure to photograph.  I live so wide open, and I don’t guilt myself over life’s little pleasures.  If there’s something that makes me happy, even if it’s something that other people may not really understand, I’m totally okay with that.  So I went to Damon, and he gave me this ‘you really have to ask’ look, and said “Your ponies!”  LOL

So here are a few members of my Applejack collection:

Applejack was my most loved pony when I was a little girl.  I thought she was the loveliest of all the My Little Ponies.  And while she was portrayed as a bit of a klutz on My Little Pony and Friends (the 80’s tv show), she was always “Princess Applejack” to me – she ruled over all my herd with a sweet and gentle hoof.  😉  So it’s with relish that I continue collecting Applejack, and even though she’s not my favourite of the new G4, Friendship is Magic, ponies she’ll always have a special place in my heart.

Well, we are almost through January, and I’ll admit… the last few photos may pose an additional challenge – seeing as how we leave for Disney World before dawn on Monday.  But I’ll get’r done (as Applejack would say).

Heels to Dawgs and back again…

Ready for a more-than-you-needed-to-know reveal?  😉  If not, you may want to skip this next part because we’re gonna talk FEET.

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with heels…  mostly because beautiful, sophisticated women wore heels.  So by the time I was twelve I was a perfectionist on the matter.  I, very honestly, spent HOURS walking empty hallways perfecting the click click click of the heels as they touched the hard surface.  Not too heavy, not too light, just the right rhythm.  Hours.  Upon.  Hours.  Every week.  Remember the word obsessed?  I wasn’t exaggerating.

Fast forward to my 29th year and pregnancy.  My feet didn’t just swell a little, they BALLOONED!  And by the time my thirtieth birthday hit I couldn’t even wear flip flops.  The only shoes my feet could fit into were dawgs – and we’re talking the old school original dawgs, the butt ugly ones.  And even those, by the end of the day would leave imprints on my feet.  It was ridiculous.

Before that, I had vowed never to wear anything so nasty on my feet…  but had little choice in the matter.  We’re not a barefoot society, and it was either dawgs or nothing.  So I sucked up what little pride I had left and got used to the idea.

I’ll admit it, I’ll never be without a pair of original dawgs again.  They may be ugly as sin, but jeeze.  There is no footwear out there that is more comfortable – and they are made right here in Saskatoon.  Thankfully, the company has expanded and is now producing a whole line up of much better looking shoes.  From sandals to boots to ballet flats to golf cleats and even reinforced work boots with firestone treads.  Yep.  We’ve become a dawgs family.  Even Damon owns two pairs.  Of course, the girl and I each own five or six different styles.  LMAO  But there is still nothing that can compare to a pretty pair of pumps.

I went years without owning a decent pair of fabulous heels.  My feet never did quite recover from pregnancy, and while I still wear a 5/6, I now need a 5/6 W (for wide).  It’s not too often you can find a pair of pumps that will fit my feet.  But last month?  I stumbled across the cutest pair while Mom, Jewles, Lily-Ann, and I were out thriftstore shopping.  I was shocked.  They are just sooo stinking cute.  And while my feet are sooo not accustomed to four inch heels, I couldn’t resist them.  Chances are they’ll only ever be worn outdoors once or twice a year…  but I’ll admit to having worn them around the house on a few occasions already.  They really do make me feel fabulous (even if they make me work in ways I’m not willing to admit to).  😉

So here they are, my very favourite pair of shoes:

my pretty, black frilly, peep toe, pumps

 

Now that was a fun challenge.  Who’d a’thunk “your shoes” would be such a gooder.  😉

TJ Bown, Summerset Abbey, and Water.

In the brief teaser I tacked onto yesterdays blog post I let you know there would be a special interview today, and I’m not going to disappoint!  I had the chance to ask author TJ Brown a few questions in regards to her new release Summerset Abbey and the series it kicks off.  So, let’s jump right in!

TD:  Was there a certain event or idea that inspired the book?

TJ:  I have always loved the Edwardian period, but after Downton Abbey aired, I really wanted to write something in that period. I told my agent, we should pitch an Edwardian and she asked me what I had in mind. 5 weeks later I had a contract for a three book Edwardian series!

TD:  I know this is your first foray into historical fiction, did this pose any particular challenges or did you find it was a natural fit for you?

TJ:  It actually isn’t my first foray into historical fiction. Six months prior to getting the Summerset Abbey contract, I got a contract for a young adult series set in the 1920’s. So even though it won’t be out until June (Born of Illusion, June 15^th!), I wrote it before the Summerset Series.

I honestly never thought I would be a historical writer, even though I love history and reading historicals. I just thought I had a more modern voice and the research intimidated me. But I had this idea that wouldn’t go away and once I wrote Born of Illusion I was hooked. Of course, Summerset is in a different time period, but before I started writing it, I figured that I had done so much research for the twenties, surely ten years prior couldn’t be that big of a difference could it? Was I ever wrong. 1914 England was a whole different world than 1924 New York. I had to start the research all over again! And I love it!

TD:  Can you tell me a little about your process?

TJ:  Usually, I start with a concept for a plot. Just a sketchy idea. Then the characters’ come. It’s rather like putting together a puzzle. And then my plot constantly changes and develops as I write. I’m not quite a seat of my pants writer, but the Summerset books have been unusually organic for me.

TD:  How many books do you foresee in this series?

TJ:  I am contracted for three but I have an idea for a fourth that my editor likes. Nothing is set in stone yet, and it may not happen, but I do have a fourth Summerset book in mind. We’ll see! But four for sure.

TD:  Do you have a favourite character or is there one who resonates more with you than the others?

TJ:  Victoria. In all of my books I have at least one over the top character and in Summerset Abbey, Victoria is the one. She is smart and imaginative and she says almost everything that comes into her mind. I adore her. Even though all girls are featured, Bloom in Winter is her book, and I had such an awesome time working on it!

So there you have it folks!  TJ Brown on her new book, Summerset Abbey, her process, and on writing historical fiction.  Now all that’s left is to drop a few details.  😉

Summerset Abbey is available at:

• Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1451698984/simonsayscom
• IndieBound – http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781451698985
• BAM – http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/books?isbn=1451698984
• S&S – http://books.simonandschuster.com/Summerset-Abbey/T-J-Brown/9781451698985

Book Blurb:

• Summerset Abbey
  1913: In a sprawling manor on the outskirts of London, three young women
  seek to fulfill their destinies and desires amidst the unspoken rules of
  society and the distant rumblings of war. . . .
  Rowena Buxton
  Sir Philip Buxton raised three girls into beautiful and capable young women
  in a bohemian household that defied Edwardian tradition. Eldest sister
  Rowena was taught to value people, not wealth or status. But everything she
  believes will be tested when Sir Philip dies, and the girls must live under
  their uncle's guardianship at the vast family estate, Summerset Abbey.
  Standing up for a beloved family member sequestered to the "under class" in
  this privileged new world, and drawn into the Cunning Coterie, an exclusive
  social circle of aristocratic "rebels," Rowena must decide where her true
  passions-and loyalties-lie.
  Victoria Buxton
  Frail in body but filled with an audacious spirit, Victoria secretly dreams
  of attending university to become a botanist like her father. But this most
  unladylike wish is not her only secret. Now, Victoria has stumbled upon a
  family scandal that, if revealed, has the potential to change lives forever.
  Prudence Tate
  Prudence was lovingly brought up alongside Victoria and Rowena, and their
  bond is as strong as blood. But by birth she is a governess's daughter, and
  to the lord of Summerset Abbey, that makes her a commoner who must take her
  true place in society-as ladies maid to her beloved "sisters." But Pru
  doesn't belong in the downstairs world of the household staff any more than
  she belongs upstairs with the Buxton girls.  And when a young lord catches
  her eye, she begins to wonder if she'll ever truly carve out a place for
  herself at Summerset Abbey.

For more check out TJ at http://tjbrownbooks.com/

Author TJ Brown – Hooray for MomWriters!

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Now, as if that alone doesn’t make one heck of a blog post, I still have more for you!  That’s right… we’re still in the middle of the January Photo Challenge – and I’m not one to give up on a challenge.  So here we are.  😉

The challenge today was to photograph water.  Easy peasy, right?  Yep.  Here’s the girl, immersed in the stuff:

My little bathing beauty.

Let’s hope tomorrow is a LITTLE more of an actual challenge…

Something I’ve bought?  Well…  I guess there’s at least a little bit of thought to go into that one.  😉

 

My bag, a glimpse into my life.

Rogers, who we are registering as Aes Sidhe Captain America, left us to go live with his forever family.  Of course, they have a thirty day trial period to ensure things work out first, but I’m confident in this placement.  I really do think he’s a perfect fit for them…  and the picture they sent me earlier this evening – of him all snuggled in for a snooze under his new Daddy’s chin, the two of them laying together on the couch – just further cemented it.

It’s always a weird few days after someone leaves.  Whether it’s a puppy going to their forever home, or a client dog who is returning home after being a part of our pack for several months…  when someone leaves the entire dynamic of the house shifts.  And that’s happening here now.

So…  onto today’s challenge:  “in your bag”.

My bag used to be a purse.  Because I used to be a girl.  Now I’m a mom, and more fierce than any girl…  Grrrl, gurl, or Woman works for me.  And my bag is not a purse…  it really is a bag.  And instead of a compact, lip colour, and moisturizer I carry a spare pair of pajamas for the kid, snacks, reusable bags, cloth pads, and cute princess and fairy bandages.

A person’s bag (if they carry one) can reveal a lot about that person.  You really do get a real quick glimpse into their life and the things that are important to them.  Amidst the papers and bits of “stuff” one just naturally accumulates (that needs to be cleared out every so often) are bits of treasure and parts of a life well lived, or wasted, depending on your point of view.

…all the essentials in one place.

Tomorrow?  “Something you’re reading”.  After that?  “Happiness”.  Something that having all the right things in your bag can help ensure… at least when you have a little one about.  😉

Friday and Saturday – January Challenge

Friday’s challenge was “where you sleep”, and before Lily-Ann goes off to school it looks less like a place to sleep and more like some crazy play space.  Some days we read, craft, play, eat, etc on the bed in the morning – generally just on a lazy morning.  And we happened to have just such a morning on Friday.  So here is my bed, after I got home from walking the girl to school, before I cleaned it back up and returned it to a place actually suitable for sleeping:

Today the challenge was “close-up”.  Now, I had taken a picture of a book I had sitting on my desk… one I really enjoy…  but Damon thought it might be nicer to grab a snapshot of one of the ornaments on our tree (and yes, it’s still up…  we haven’t found a storage box for the ornaments yet – first year with a full size tree, remember?).  And after doing just that, I think he was right.  Much more fun and colourful:

Let’s see what we can expect to see tomorrow: