Month of July Goals

It's reporting times, folks. Yay and a few woots all around! Here's how I did with my Month of June Goals:

• Read The Mortal Instruments: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare ---> Getting there...
• Complete an edit of my wip: BOUND ---> Super Check. Oh, I love this story
• Hand off BOUND to one more round of betas ---> I'm pretty confident with where it's at right now. I'll hand it off to my agent soon
• Beta a friend's book ---> I've started going through it
• Continue forward with my no sweets diet. ---> I went an entire 22 days without sweets as per my detox plan.
• Exercise three times a week ---> Check. I'd like to thank the gym facility where I work and having an hour long lunch break

Here are my Month of July Goals:

• Beta a couple books
• Start reading Beyonders: Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull 
• Continue exercising three days a week
• Only have one treat a week on Fridays
• Start the first draft of BOUND's sequel. I so can't wait

As always, I ask: what are your Month of July goals? You can voice your successes from last month as well.

Writing. Jewels.

Month of June Goals



Well, guys and girls, I'm really glad I'm posting my goals on my blog. It's helping me to accomplish them. I'd suggest you do likewise, for sure.

Well, here's how my month of May goals went:

• Go on a much needed vacation to Washington State Check and Check
• Give myself some R&R for two weeks before I doing anything related to writing Check. I did get sick the week I was supposed to start editing again, so I technically took three weeks off. But then I had a bout with editor's block (writer's block but only when editing). I'm finally back in the game now.
• Read The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter Check and Check. I loved it so much that I've already finished its sequel, Goddess Interrupted. My holy crap, this series is incredible. Read it! Now!
• Catch up on blog commenting Check but this is an ongoing goal.

Well, on and upwards I go. *Drum Roll*

Here are my Month of June goals:

• Read The Mortal Instruments: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
• Complete an edit of my wip: BOUND
• Hand off BOUND to one more round of betas
• Beta a friend's book--Ashley, I'm so proud of you!
• Continue forward with my no sweets diet. I've done 12 days for 21. Woot!
• Exercise three times a week

Well, what are your Month of June goals? Or what's new in your life?

Writing. Jewels.

Fictional Love Triangles: Which Team Are You On?

Love triangles are ever so sweet, don’t you think? Two guys fighting over one girl. Tender, huh? Wouldn’t we all like to be chased after by a couple people at the same time? Aye, Aye! I definitely would. Ok, I’d just like to have one guy chasing after me.

Here are some examples of love triangles in young adult literature:

• Jace—Clary—Simon (The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare)
• Peeta—Katniss—Gale (The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins)
• David—Talley—Zane (Pretties by Scott Westerfeld)
• Ky—Cassia—Xander (Matched by Ally Condie)
• Edward—Bella—Jacob (Twilight by Stephenie Meyer)

As for the last example, it was nice to see the movie Breaking Dawn. Finally, I was able to visually see the nuptials of Bella and Edward. Pardon my spoiler, but who doesn’t know this anyway? 

From the very moment Bella entered Forks High School’s office and Edward smelled her out, I wanted them to be together . . . forever. In my opinion, Jacob just got in the way. If Jacob was meant to be with Bella, it would have been him, not Edward, appearing at the very beginning of the book. Many people out there may beg to differ, so I apologize for any offence. 

No cat fights, please!

Anyway, I’m a Team Edward gal all the way. Always was and always will be.

So are you a Team Edward or a Team Jacob fan? Why? Which fictional love triangles are your favorites? Why?

Writing. Jewels.

The Mortal Instruments Review

If you liked the video above then you’ll love The Mortal Instruments series. If anything, the video probably intrigued you to read the books. I hope.

For the Off the Shelf Challenge, I said I would read the last two books in The Immortal Instruments series, City of Ashes and City of Glass by Cassandra Clare. I previously read the first book, therefore, I will review the series as a whole.

It’s a twist on paranormal fiction including: warlocks, werewolves, vampires, faeries, and demons. The series was cool, especially because it referenced the 80’s flick, Say Anything. You’ll just have to read it to see where Clare placed the reference to the romantic, John Cusack film.  

The element to these books that I thought was the well done was Clare’s hooks. I don’t remember one; yes one, of the chapters that didn’t leave me salivating for more.  Reading for hours was a common theme to my journey to gobble up these books. 

A huge part of the books that I loved and hated was how Clare spread out a major plot element throughout the last two books. I cannot tell you what because that would definitely spoil the series. And I’m not a spoiler. This was another reason why I was hooked into the books.  I could not stop reading without knowing exactly what was going to happen.

I liked the characters, especially Jace. He is the series’ handsome-beyond-reality hunk of a hero. Plus, the villain, Valentine, was someone I would never want to be near. He’d probably sick demons on me just for breathing, or think I’m vampire because of my widow’s peak.

The fourth book comes out later this year, so it’s not over yet. Check out the countdown below. Pick up this series. You’ll enjoy it for sure! 

7th Day of Christmas

Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
Great song, eh? Peppy and rockin song for sure.  The coolest part about the music video is the two dogs running around in the snow with reindeer ears on.  I am a sucker when it comes to dogs. I love them!
Well, dear followers and friends, here is what I asked my parents to get me for Christmas:

Despicable Me DVD - LOVE this movie.

The last two books of The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare.  I read the first book last month and loved it.  Great ending to hook you in for the rest of the series.

And Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.

Can't wait to watch the movie and devour the books.  It's funny cause I know exactly what I'm getting for Christmas already. Didn't even have to snoop. :)

What do you want for Christmas?  Can't wait to hear about your Christmas wish list.  Merry Christmas again!

The Sad Tale of the Running Nose

My week has been a bit rocky thus far. Well, the rockiness started on Saturday afternoon. While editing my novel, my nose started dripping. By the time I went to bed that night, I knew the evil cold had taken root.
Here’s how I've spent my time the last three days:
Sunday: slept, slept, slept and slept some more. Could not sleep at all Sunday night. I ended up reading almost 100 pages of the first book in “The Mortal Instruments” series by Cassandra Clare. Good book! I’d recommend it.
Monday: Called in sick to work, attempted to sleep with not much success. Went to the doctor with the intent of getting a shot in my bum to make me better super fast. Got the said shot, started to leave the doctor’s office, luckily sat down before I passed out right in the waiting room, and then waited until the stars stopped floating. Totally scary! I thought, how in the devil am I gonna drive home? Also, I was burning up and about to cry. Once, I got my bearings straight, I called my dad to drive me home, cause there was no way for me to safely drive. Yes, that's the second time, in that very doctor’s office, I've almost passed out because of getting a shot. Maybe I can start a record? Anyway, now that I look back on the experience, I really wish I could have been a fly on the wall watching the event unravel. I was probably white as a sheet and looked drugged. The rest of the day accrued many more sleepless attempts, neck throbbing because I had to double up the pillows in order to not drown in my own . . . I’ll leave that up to your own imagination. Hint: It’s a 4 letter word starting with an “S”, ending with a “T” and an “NO” in between. So, I spent most of last night watching X-Files episodes because I didn’t want to inadvertently die in my sleep for the above-mentioned reason.
Tuesday (Today): Didn’t go to work again. Luckily from 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. I slept peacefully. I visited the chiropractor in hopes he could get my poor neck back in order from the crappy sleeping situation. I ate and slept a bit and read more of “The Mortal Instruments".
I indulge you, or maybe bore you with this sob story of mine for good reason. Why, oh why, can’t there be an incubator that induces sleep so I can sleep away my cold symptoms until I'm in tip top shape. If anyone knows of such technology or is developing such a miracle system of getting over a cold, please, oh please, let me know. Wouldn’t that be lovely to sleep away a cold? Wake up all better and not need to go through the sleepless nights, blowing your nose, feeling achy, and having a fever.
Anyway, I am still under the weather with high hopes that I’ll be feeling awesome way soon. Cross you fingers and send me sleep well vibes tonight cause I really want to sleep. I even bought a humidifier to help me sleep. Much love to you all and prayers that you won’t get bitten by the evil and dreaded cold bug.