Distraction

Distraction is something that every writer will have to face at some time or another. Of course, most people whether they are writers or not will experience it as well. But for a writer, distraction has the tendency to put back one's publication date and that's not--oh look! A puppy!

With two young sons (both under the age of 4), I tend to get distracted rather frequently, and very easily. My work is constantly set aside when my sons require my attention, or they want juice, or they want to colour, or watch a movie, or... well, the list could go on.

I also get distracted easily without my sons' help. There are countless ways for one to get distracted; there are household chores, food, tea, TV, and the worst of all... social media. I enjoy it far too much. I am constantly on Facebook, Pinterest, and checking on my Twitter  and Goodreads accounts. It is simply unfair how addictive social media has become, and as I am always on my computer, it is far too easy to click my internet button and browse my pages instead of writing my next chapter.

The question is, as a writer, how do I keep myself focused on what I am writing and not on that tempting "safari" button at the bottom of my screen? Well, it's simple. When I need to focus (when my kids are busy with other projects or they're with their grandparents), I turn off my network. Easy as that. Sure, I find myself still clicking on my browser, but when the screen pops up saying I'm not connected to the network, I  remember that I should be working, so I close it down and get back to writing. It actually works very well with me. I can get right back to what I was writing, and after a short while, I stop clicking on my browser button.

What about you? What distracts you? What do you do to regain your focus?

Something British Monday #5: Top Gear

Over the last couple of years, my husband has been watching a show on the BBC called Top Gear. The funny/odd part about this is that I have come to love it! It's hysterical! The three men, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May host the show.

The hosts are hilarious, and the show itself is filled with their crazy antics. Each show they have some sort of adventure, whether it be riding scooters across China, or driving across the Sahara Desert with the windows removed from their vehicles, or off-roading through the rain forest, or building the ultimate wheelchair then seeing how off-road it could be.

In each episode they also test out vehicles and compare the speed around their 'track'. Once they have gone around, they pass the job off to 'The Stig'.

But what has me so entertained are their adventures. They do the most ridiculous things, which keeps me wanting more. Then, of course, are their entertaining personalities and pleasing English accents.

This pleases my husband, no end, for he can watch his car shows and still have me sitting beside him on the couch, laughing at the same things as him.

What about you? Do you watch Top Gear? What was your favourite episode? Do you like other shows by the BBC?

When Inspiration Strikes

A few mornings ago I was woken up at 5:30am by my husband as he was leaving for work. Needless to say I was exhausted and promptly turned over and tried to fall back to sleep. But I couldn't. My mind would not turn back off once it had turned on. I simply could not stop my thoughts from running though everything... from what I had to do that day to what I should have done better the day before. Then suddenly it hit me! A new plot for a new novel.

Surprisingly, I had not been thinking of anything remotely similar to the plot that suddenly occurred to me. It was entirely a fluke.

Later that day I was doing the dishes and listening to some music when I was hit again! It must have been the lyrics that put the plot in my mind, but for the second time that day I had thought of a new outline for a novel. That adds up to 8 total plotlines floating around in my mind and outlined in my notebook.

Those two occurrences got me thinking of all the circumstances in which I find inspiration. It can happen while you are performing an ordinary task, such as my washing dishes, or it can come to you when you are doing research, watching a program on TV, or observing people in the foodcourt at the mall. I have found inspiration in many odd places.

I have likewise suffered from a lack of inspiration. I have sat staring at my computer screen with my hands poised above my keyboard, just waiting for the right word, right sentence, right anything to pop into my head... but nothing would come. It is times such as those that I believe walking away from  your project will help your mind work. Go for a walk, watch a program on TV, ride a bike, or do some household cleaning. Eventually the right thoughts will occur to you.

Have you ever suffered from a lack of inspiration? What did you do to make it come back? Where is the oddest place you have been inspired?

Something British Monday #4: Regency Fashion

One reason why I am fascinated by Regency England is because of the fashion. I love the empire waist dresses, the gloves, the fans, the men’s breeches, cravats, and hessian boots. The hats can appear ridiculous, but it kept the women’s complexions untouched by the sun, despite the many hours they spent out of doors.

Fashion had a fascinating affect on society at the time. In today’s day and age, everyone has a different sense of style, but in Regency England, the men and women all wore the same style. The only differentiating factors were the material used and the quality of the gowns and suits.

The interesting thing about this is that if a woman didn’t follow society’s dictates of fashion, they were considered ‘fast’ (or in today’s terms, a ‘slut’). People would protect their daughters from those such women by refusing to allow them to socialize or by giving them the ‘cut direct’, or ‘cold shoulder’.

The men in that time were either average in dress, or they were considered a 'dandy'. A dandy was a man who spent hours on his appearance. Perhaps they were perfecting their cravat, or they were straightening their waistcoat, or even adding a bejewelled cravat pin or cane. Whatever it was that they did, their added effort often encouraged other young bucks to follow in the fashion trend.

It was unseemly for men to be seen without a jacket by the opposite sex. The only time it was permissible for a man to be in his shirtsleeves or without his cravat was in the company of men, and likely in his office or library at home. But never in public.

I have several books on Regency fashion, I have looked up photos, and I have watched most films that took place in that period. I am simply captivated by it!

How do you like Regency fashion? Do you find it as interesting as I, or do you find corsets and stockings a bore?

Setting Goals

I have recently begun setting some goals for myself.

For my new novel I have the plot lined out and am currently sitting at just over 62,000 words. I find that I am very easily distracted with the goings on in my home, and setting goals for myself encourages me to focus.

My breakfast - Spinach, 1 apple,
3 hand-fulls of grapes and 1/4 watermelon.

I estimated that I could write a certain amount of words in one day, then I went through my calendar and set small goals in 5,000 word intervals. If I hit each of those days, then I will succeed in reaching my ultimate goal of over 90,000 words by October 20th. Of course, those numbers will give me plenty of leeway should there be a family function or two that takes my attention away for the day.

My snack.

The other goal that I have set for myself (as was mentioned in my blog post for Wednesday), is that of eating healthier. I must say that the juice that I have been making is actually quite delicious! 

I really like the idea of setting small goals for onesself. Nothing too extravagant that may seem out of reach, but small, easily attainable goals. I find that with the smaller goals, they happen more frequently, and therefore give us a sense of satisfaction and pride for having achieved the goal, until ultimately, we reach the large prize at the end.

My lunch - 3 leaves of kale, 1 carrot stick,
1 cucumber, 2 oranges, 1 apple, 2 celery sticks.

In the case of my novel, it is completing it, and in the case of my juice, it is gaining a healthier lifestyle and perhaps losing some left-over baby weight.

Do you set small goals for yourself or do you go for one big goal?

Juicing

Last night I watched a documentary called “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead” and it got me thinking. Seriously thinking. The statistics and information that they shared was mind-boggling. I am amazed at the amount of fast food the average person eats, and the average consumption of starches, sugars, and fats, compared to that of vegetables and fruits.

The documentary started off with one man who was, fat, sick, and nearly dead, deciding to take control of his life and his future by going on a 60 day juice fast. He would ‘juice’ large quantities of vegetables and fruits for every meal for 60 days with the hopes of getting to a healthy weight and reducing or eliminating the amount of medication that he was required to take in order to stay alive. After his 60 day juice fast, he would then endeavor to maintain a healthy lifestyle, eating mostly vegetables and fruits.

And you know what? He did it! He lost his unhealthy weight, slowly reduced, then eliminated all the medications he was on (with the approval of his physician), and he maintained his weight afterwards by not eating fast or processed foods, and eating lots of fruits and veggies. It was remarkable.

Along his journey, he met some people that he inspired to do the same. Their results were similar. One woman suffered from migraines, but after juicing for 10 days, her migraines disappeared.

I can honestly say that I, personally, don’t eat enough fruits and veggies. But this documentary inspired me. It inspired me to try my own sort of juicing goal for 10 days. I will not cut out food altogether, but I will juice for breakfast and lunch, and I will eat dinner with my husband and sons. Of course, I will not eat pizzas, pastas, or junk, but I will make salads (which I make 3-4 times per week anyway), and other raw fruit and veggie based meals. That way I’m not fasting per-se, but will still consume the fruits and vegetables that my body needs.

Here goes nothin’!

Something British Monday #3: David Gandy

Good morning, Monday! Did everyone see the Olympic closing ceremonies yesterday? No? That's a shame. Yes? Well, then you must have seen the world's most successful male model, David Gandy, appear on stage.

If you follow me on Facebook, then you must know that I hold a slight tendre for the man. As I saw him revealed at yesterday's ceremony, I excitedly yelled, "It's David Gandy!!", causing my husband and sons to twitch in their seats. Let me show you what has me so enamoured...

He has sexy glasses:

He has excellent taste in undergarments:

He knows just the right spot to take a girl on vacation:

Very tasteful choice in swimwear:

He loves animals:

He's a true thinker:

He has beautiful blue eyes:

He knows the value of hydration:

He has impeccable style:

And yes, ladies, he's straight, and single! (I strongly urge you to google him...)

If you are interested in listening to him speak in his sexy English accent, check out these videos:
Interview on Jonathan Ross show
David Gandy and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
Dulce & Gabbana Light Blue commercial


Rest assured, he is most definitely going to be a hero in one of my future novels.

Now I thought I would ask you: Are there any models (male or female) that you would like to see appear as a hero or heroine in a novel? Do you agree that David Gandy should be considered "David Candy"?

Oh the Cuteness!

I come across these pictures on Pinterest on a regular basis, but I couldn’t help but share these few with you. I found myself saying “Aw!” to them all.

Aw! The little Chihuahua at the bottom is my very own Lady. She's 4 1/2 years old and she's darling.

I hope you enjoyed these pictures! I know that I sure did!

Happy Friday, everyone!

A Round of Blog Tag!

I have been tagged by mywithershins! Thank you!

Here are the rules:

1. Post the rules (done)
2. Answer the questions the tagger listed for me (see below)
3. Create (or reuse) 11 questions for those I tag (Hmmm, that will take some thought)
4. Tag 11 people (I'm not sure that I know 11 bloggers...)
5. Let them know they’ve been tagged (will do)

1. What color is most prevalent in your wardrobe?

Black, pink, and purple.

2. What type of shows do you prefer to watch on TV (comedy, mystery, sports, reality…)?

I love comedies and some reality. The following are some of my favourite shows: Big Bang Theory, Red Dwarf, Top Gear (from the BBC), Hell's Kitchen, Ellen Degeneres Show, American Pickers, The Office, American Restoration, Storage Wars, Auction Hunters, Man vs Wild, and MasterChef.

3. If you could become any creature (real or imaginary), what would it be and why?

Oh boy... I'll have to think about that one. Hmmm... I'd like to be an Animagus (from Harry Potter). That way I could have magical powers and be able to turn into an animal. And if I got to choose the animal that I could turn into, it would be an eagle, because flying/soaring would be wonderful.

4. Do you have a regular time in which you do your blogging/writing (morning, evening…)?

I do my blogging while my sons are content, fed, and rested. AKA the morning, just after breakfast. I also only do my blogs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

5. If you could spend the day in someone else’s shoes whose would they be and why?

I would pick the Queen's, because I want to know what the inside of Buckingham Palace looks like.

6. What is your favorite place to spend time and why do you like spending time there?

My favourite place to spend time, believe it or not, is on the couch with my kids on either side of me.

7. What is your favorite childhood memory?

Oh boy. Another tough question. Well, I am not certain that I can think of one specific occasion, but I loved watching movies with my mom and my brother. We'd stay up late, curled up on the couch, watching movies and snacking on popcorn.

8. What did you always want to be when you grew up and did you become what you wanted to be?

When I was little I wanted to be either a teacher or a writer. I ended up going to college/university and graduating with an Applied Business Technology degree, then worked in an office for a few years. But after I had children and decided to stay home, I once more found my love of writing. So here I am, a self-published author of my first Historical Romance novel, and in the middle of writing my second!

9. If you could travel to any time in our history or future, when would you like to go and why?

No hesitation here... I'd go to Regency England. I've been reading Historical Romance novels since I was 15. I love the period, I love the fashion, the traditions, the rules of society, I love horses... the list could go on. I basically adore everything about Regency England, and would go there in a heartbeat.

10. Would you classify your decorating style as modern, classic, futuristic, rustic, or eclectic?

I'd say that I'm a mixture. I like to think I'm modern, but I also love antiques. My home now is filled with Ikea furniture and childrens' toys, so it's not classified as much. But when I get a bigger home, I'd like to imagine that I would fill it with antique furniture and beautiful paintings, with a kids recroom filled with all their stuff. :)

11. If you could meet the person you most admire (living or dead), who would it be and what would you say to them?

If I had the option, I would see my Meme (grandmother) again. I miss her terribly. She passed away when I was still very young, and now that I am older, I wish that I had asked her questions about her life and had gotten to know her better.

Now it's time for me to post my own questions to you!

1. If you could travel to one place, where would you go and why?

2. Where is your favourite place to read or write? Why?

3. What is your favourite novel and why?

4. If you could choose to add one room to your home what room would it be, and what would you put in it?

5. If you could learn one skill instantly, what skill would it be?

6. What is your favourite food and why?

7. If you could be anybody for a day, who would you be and why?

8. If you could have one superpower, what would it be, and why?

9. Where is your favourite place to be on a hot, summer day?

10. If you could travel to any time in our history or future, when/where would you go and why?

11. What type of shows to you prefer to watch on TV?

I can honestly say that I don't know 11 bloggers. In fact, I am hard pressed to find 1 that I think would respond to this post. But I will make the attempt!

Ravena Guron

Danielle Harmon

Serena Akeroyd

I'm afraid that these three fabulous bloggers are the only three that I could come up with. Please enjoy!

Fishing Adventure

This is me with the ocean scenery.

Our first crab!

As I said last week, I had left my kids with my mom and had gone on a spontaneous fishing trip with my husband. It was a wonderful opportunity to get away from the noise of our house and into the peaceful surroundings of the ocean.

 We didn't catch any fish, but boy did we catch some crabs!

 There are some restrictions, of course, with regards to what one is allowed to bring home. You are only allowed to keep the males, and they have to be a certain size. They've got a measuring post on the dock that you must measure your crabs by before you can put them in the 'keep' pile.




The crabs we caught were called Red Rock crabs, and boy were they delicious! They were smaller than the average Dungeness crabs, and their shells were much more of a challenge to get into, but it was certainly worth it!






Have you ever gone crabbing or fishing? What did you catch?

Let's Go For Coffee

Lately I have noticed that friends, acquaintances, and I have been agreeing to make plans to ‘hang out’ or ‘go for coffee’, but nothing comes of it. I have begun to suspect that some of my friends say they want to get together but don’t truly mean it. Others, I can tell that they are sincere when they wish to make plans.

It is when I say something like “great! What days are you available?” that they respond with “oh, well I’m pretty busy, but I’ll get back to you" that I realize that they probably don’t really want to get together; they were just trying to be nice.

Has it become a social convention to simply say those words, “let’s get together sometime”, when no one really means it? If so, why do you suppose we all fall in with that trend?

I, myself, never say it without meaning it. When I tell a friend that I want to get together, go for coffee sometime, or get our kids together for a playdate, I genuinely mean it. I’m a stay-at-home mom; I generally do not speak to adults in my daily routine until my husband gets home from work. I need the social interaction. So when I try to make plans with a friend and they don’t follow through, it does more than disappoint.

I know that my friends do not mean to insult. They are simply busy. I understand, as I have been busy myself from time to time. But when I am too busy, I endeavor to make alternate plans for the next week or another day.

I am beginning to fear that this social convention is to become a permanent statement in the average conversation. I hear it everywhere, and not always directed at me. Old friends from highschool or old acquaintances will bump into each other at a coffee shop and say “wow, it’s so great to see you again! We should get together and catch up!” But do you truly believe that they’ll ‘get together’? Probably not.

How about you? Do you use this statement on a regular basis? Do you ever follow through with it? Do you, like me, fear that this statement is here to stay? Have you ever been on the receiving end of this statement and been disappointed with the outcome?