I've been wanting to do this for a while now, and finally I got a good amount of photos that can represent my life right now. After all of the long, huge posts I've done, I wanted to leave you with a good dose of cotton candy. If blog posts were food, this would be cotton candy. Sweet and sappy. ;)

So, I present:

if blog posts were food, this would be cotton candy 

[aka, my life in photos]

Today, I went bowling with some friends for one of my good friend's birthday. I can't post any face pictures due to parental preferences, but here is a picture of our feet in ugly bowling shoes. It was super fun, but my feet were happy to be back in their own shoes once again when we were all done. ;)

Me: "I'm gonna stink at bowling."
*gets a strike on the first try*
My friends: "What's this lie about stinking?"

I got more gutter balls than anything, but it was still super fun. I did the best I could do with a 10 pound ball. Seriously? Apparently small balls are made for people with MUCH smaller finger holes than mine.

Oh, right. Ugly bowling shoes. There. See?

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
'Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand 

On that same shopping excursion, I bought these:

1. Owl City - Ocean Eyes
2. Relient K - The Bird and the Bee Sides / The Nashville Tennis EP
3. Manafest - The Chase

Now, mind you, I didn't buy the Manafest CD for myself. My brother wanted it. But there is a gorgeous song on there that I absolutely love. I'm not usually a rap person, but Trevor McNevan's appearance made me fall in love with this song - not to mention the piano parts and the beautiful lyrics.

I thought of a song my mom used to sing in church
But it's been so long I can't remember the words


Every time you run, every time you hide
Every time it hurts, every time you cry
Every time you run away, every time you hide your face
And it feels so far away,
I'm right here, with you

Another song I LOVE from that CD is Fire in the Kitchen... but that's another story entirely. Hehe.

I've totally been enjoying the other two CDs. I'm a Owl City & Relient K fan all the way. I don't like the Bird and the Bee Sides as much as the older Relient K stuff, but I still love it and that should tell you something. My favorite songs are Hope For Every Fallen Man, There Was Another Time in my Life, & all the acoustic version of the songs.

And I love every song on Ocean Eyes, but my favorites (the ones I had never heard before purchasing the album) are The Bird and the Worm, Cave In, and Tidal Wave. I also love Hello Seattle, Vanilla Twilight, and Fireflies. Obviously. ;)

*end of music rant*

Samarah, I thought of you when I was taking this pic!

This would be another aspect of my life. Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman. We've been watching all the seasons front to back ever since my mom got them as a gift. I. Love. This. Show. The characters are so endearing, and they explore so many different aspects of life in one television show. I'd definitely have to add this to the list of my fandoms.

And who are my favorite characters? Oohhh... let's see. Horace! He never fails to make me laugh, and he always has this sweet way about him. I also like Dr. Mike and Sully, obviously, and Matthew, Colleen, and Brian. And Hank & Jake are also really fascinating because of how they can be mean one episode and nice the next. :P Anyway, I could go on for hours about this show (just ask Samarah) so if you like this show too, comment and we'll talk. ;)

"Squirrel!"

Okay, wow! I asked, you answered! All these questions are AMAZING! Thanks, you guys! I'm sure this will help a lot! I know I said I'd reply in a comment on the post, but it was getting too long so I decided to make a blog post.


This is my post for Beautiful People, hosted by Georgie and I, where we post questions for YOU to answer about your characters. Don't forget, we will be answering ALL these questions, but the questions that are a part of this month's post are highlighted in red. If your question wasn't highlighted, look for them next month. We plan to go through all 40-some questions you posted for me (with exception to duplicates. We also had to change some to fit a group setting). :P When that time comes, I'll probably answer them for any of my other characters. (There are a LOT to choose from.)

So, check out the Beautiful People blog thing, and link up!

Without further ado... be prepared for a lot of scrolling. This is what's called a mega-post. :)

Tarissa @ In the Bookcase

(link to Tarissa's comment)

Tarissa said...

I'll say the first thing that struck me upon seeing the image set you made, was... Nancy Drew.
Now as I look at the images again, I think it was the flashlight that specifically made me think of it, and for some reason I associate green things with Nancy D. Nonetheless, just thought I should mention it to you.

Actually, that made me think of Nancy Drew too! I don't quite know why I included the flashlight - partly because I picture her exploring. I'm not sure what she's searching for - whether she's looking for clues, or something else entirely, but I definitely agree with your observation! She definitely does remind me of Nancy Drew. ;)

So, since Avary likes to be in the woods, with her books & journal, she could be said to have a methodical personality?
(or, Does your character have a methodical or disorganized personality?)
I suppose you could say that she has a methodical personality. I think that she hides in the woods to get away from something. But she definitely does seem to have a methodical personality to some extent. I think she's a mix of disorganization and perfectionism, if that makes sense. (It probably doesn't. :P)

Does she think inside herself more than she talks out loud to her friends? (more importantly, she does actually have friends??)
She definitely does think inside herself - much more than she talks to anyone else. At this point, she doesn't have too many friends - books ARE her main friends, actually. She will end up befriending my other three main characters after being forced into trying circumstances, though. Their names are Brian, Violet, and Sawyer, and they will become her friends eventually. Other than that, I don't think she has many friends.

Does her name have a special meaning? The name Avary might have something to do with flying, birds, or escaping something?
Mm, yes. Actually, I came up with Avary all on my own. It's a variant of Avery, but I wanted her to be able to be nicknamed Ava. I definitely think of birds too, and I think she does try to escape something. What she's trying to escape though, I'm not quite sure.
*laughs* I actually just looked up the meaning of Avery, and it means either elf or counsel. Both of those fit Avary really well! :P

Hannah Grace @ {i will} Walk in Thy Truth

(link to her comment)

Hannah said...

I saw this and thought first off that it had a slight air of mystery around it. Also, the name Avary sounds like flying [okay, that made no sense, hopefully you understand what I meant] Maybe her Dad is in the air force/navy? Or is a flier? Maybe she has an interest in flying or something?

Hey Half-Pint! :) Yes, she definitely is mysterious, isn't she? I definitely like the idea of her Dad being in the air force... since this is a sci/fi-fantasy novel, I'll probably make him a pilot of a spaceship or something. *has a vision of Han Solo and the Millenium Falcon* :P I think she has an interest in flying, too. I'll have to see where that goes!

You said she likes to hide away in the woods, what is she hiding from? Is there something she's afraid of?
I think she may be hiding from a family situation, or her own fears. I'm not quite sure yet. I'm still trying to pinpoint her fear... it's proving to be difficult.

Does she prefer her own company over others?
Oh my word, definitely. I picture her being rather solitary, and one who prefers her own thoughts and ideas over the thoughts of others. That might be one of her flaws too - she's withdrawn, and it takes her a while to get out of her shell. Do you think maybe her preference for solitude stems from selfishness? *ponders that*

Does she write, dream, dance, sing, photograph?
She writes, and she dreams. She's very imaginative and thoughtful. I think she's scared to dance in front of people, but when she's alone in the forest, she dances to music only she can hear. I don't picture her singing, but maybe she does. I'm not sure. I think she definitely does photograph too. She's one of those people that loves to capture beauty, no matter what it is.

Emily Grace @ A Life Worthy of the Lord

Emily said...

Yeah! What a fun idea. =D
From what you've said, I love her character already. =P

Thank you so much! Yes, I love how she's turning out! Answering questions has helped me get to know her a lot more than I did before! :D

What is her favorite book? (or genre of books)
Well, she loves the classics. Probably some Jane Austen, some Dickens, Jules Verne? (I've actually never read any of those books. *blushes*) And definitely The Chronicles of Narnia! However, it's a fantasy world, so I don't know what kind of authors they have there. :P I think those are the books she likes. I think too that deep down, she's a hopeless romantic. Other than that, she likes sci/fi, fantasy, and historical fiction.

Who is her favorite author and the one that inspires her the most(since you've mentioned that she has a journal I assume that she writes)?
Very perceptive! Yes, she does write! C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien are some of her inspirations, as well as the authors I mentioned up there. (She's starting to sound like me! :P)

Favorite flavor of ice cream?
Vanilla, with just the right amount of chocolate syrup. She likes it when it melts together into one giant ice cream soup. (It might sound gross to some of you, but there you have it.)

Favorite season of the year?
Autumn!! Or late summer; when it's warm enough to go outside. She spends a lot of time out there. :P Another favorite time of the year is when the trees are just starting to bloom. She likes pretty much every season except for winter, and even then, it has a beauty all of its own.

What is her middle name?
(or, What is her full name?)
Lea - her full name is Avary Lea Townsend (tentatively, at least).

What does she do with her spare time?
Reads, or writes. She escapes to the forest quite a lot, and for some reason I think she might have horses in the picture. She also does a lot of exploring. She isn't super close to her family, I don't think... which will be a stretch for me to write about, but sometimes she does enjoy spending time with them. It greatly depends on her mood, and how much time she has.

Is she a detailistic person or does she see the big picture?
I think she's kind of skeptical on the whole big picture thing. She's not sure what life's about or what her purpose is, so all she can do is take life one day at a time, and hope for the best. I'm not sure whether that qualifies as detailistic, but there ya go. :P (At this point, I'm pretty sure she hasn't found Jesus yet, but she will by the end of the book, most definitely. If I have any say about it... which, I do. ;)

Is she a perfectionist or a get the job done as fast as you can type of person?
Well, that's the funny thing. She's a perfectionist, but often her head is in the clouds so she doesn't have the patience to 'perfect' the job, if you know what I mean. She's kind of an oxymoron in that respect (just like me... :P). I guess it depends on what she's doing, what she wants to do after she's done, and whether she wants to be perfectionistic or not. :P

What does her handwriting look like? (round, slanted, curly, skinny, sloppy, neat, decorative, etc.)
Ooh, good question! I'd have to say I picture it curly, slanted, neat, round, and decorative. :P Kind of like this font. (I can't endorse any of the other links on that site, but that page is safe to my knowledge. :)

Favorite animal?
Horses, definitely. She can relate to them a lot in terms of their free-spirited nature and independence.

Does she have any pets?
Ooh. That's a hard one. Maybe some horses. And maybe a dog. Or a cat. Uhhh... I don't know! I'll have to think on that one! ;)

How many brothers/sisters does she have(if any)?
I'm pretty sure she doesn't have any. However, an older brother may pop up out of nowhere. I'll let you know if he does. ;)

Is she the oldest, youngest, middle, or only child?
As of now... an only child. But that could change.

Does she have a 'life verse' and if so what is it?
This might sound kind of cliche, but it's this one:

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.[b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Jeremiah 29:11-14

I know the part about the exile sounds weird, but Avary seems to be in a bit of an emotional exile. She's detached from anyone and everyone. God is going to have to help bring her out of it, hence this verse.

Favorite writing utensil? (ball point pen, felt tip pen, pencil, mechanical pencil, etc)
Either a mechanical pencil or a ball-point pen. Whatever is on hand at the moment, although she hates switching writing utensils halfway through the page.

Thanks for all the questions, Emily! :)

Lily @ Snatched from the Wind

(link to her comment)

Ahh, hey Lily! *hugs* Glad you stopped by! :)

How old is she?
I'm thinkin' 16...? Yeah, probably 16. :P

What type of laugh does she have?
Soft and quiet. She's reserved most of the time, but sometimes, if she lets herself, she can laugh loud and long. :P

What sort of stuff does she write about?
Ahhh... that's a hard question. Um... fantasy worlds, where everything is different. She uses her writing as a sort of escape {not sure from what}, so she writes about a lot of different things, most of them set in completely different worlds. (Which is ironic, since this story is set in a completely different world... :P)

Who is her best friend?
She doesn't really have one. She and Violet, my other girl main character, become pretty close though, and she becomes really good friends with the other two main characters, Brian & Sawyer.

What is her family like?
See... that's the thing... I don't know. I think her dad is gone a lot of the time, flying planes or spaceships or something. Her mom is pretty supportive but doesn't really understand Avary (or at least that's how Avary feels). I think there may be an older brother in the equation, but how that will play out... I have no idea. :P (There are a lot of things I don't know, but these questions have helped me figure out some of it!)

Is she a Christian, or will she eventually find Jesus?
She's not quite a Christian yet, but she will find Jesus soon. I'm not sure when or how, but I do know that she definitely needs him. Like I said to Emily Grace, she's in a bit of an emotional exile, where she's detached from everyone and everything. God needs to come in and help break down the walls.

And....does she believe in fairies?
HAHA! That made me laugh! You know... I think she kind of does. She doubts that they're actually real, but somewhere deep down she hopes that they are. Ah, that's it! I know what she writes about: fairies! Thanks, Lily! :D

Inna @ Paper Raindrops

(link to her comment)

Inna said...

Btw, I love that outfit! Good work. :) And thanks for the great comment! Made me smile. *High-five for being awesome right back at you* ;)

Hey Inna! I LOVED your questions. *double high five for being awesome*
Ah, thank you so much! I love that outfit. I'd wear it everyday if I could. :P

Does Avary like hedgehogs?
HAHA! This totally made me laugh. Yes, she does. :P Actually, if you want to talk about hedgehogs, talk to my other character, Talryn. She actually has a bodyguard who is a hedgehog. (Long story.)

What is her favorite kind of weather? (Rain, sunshine, windy, starry skies, nippy?)
She likes rainy days, and sunshiny days, in mixed amounts. She likes it right after it's rained, when the smell still lingers in the air, and when it's misty or foggy. She finds that inspiring.

Does she have a good sense of humor, and if so, what kind? (Does she enjoy slapstick, wit, sarcasm, etc.?)
She's sarcastic, very. (Like me. *blush*) She also likes witty people, and puns. She's a bit of a nerd in that respect. :P

Does Avary dance?
Oh my word, ha! I have no idea. When no one's watching, I imagine she does. :P I think she's always wanted to dance in the rain but has never gotten around to it.

iGirl @ iDream

(link to her comment)

iGirl said...

I would like to ask some questions, sorry it's late ;)
Thanks for asking for us to ask questions :)

Ah, you're welcome! It's my pleasure! Thanks for asking them! :) And no, you're not too late! You're just in time! :D

Does she have any siblings?

Possibly an older brother. I'm not sure if she'll be an only child or not. If she does have siblings, she doesn't have many.

What are her grades like/or what were they like?
She gets mostly A's and B's. She's very studious and schoolwork comes naturally to her. (Ha, yeah, I wish I could say the same!)

Does she have any weird hobbies?
Um, she likes polka? *cracks up* Just kidding. She likes to birdwatch.

Is she a fan of popular music?
Some of it. Since it's a different world, I'm not quite sure what kind of music is popular, but yeah, I'd say she likes some of it. She likes stuff with a good beat and violins... sort of like this.

Does she like to go outside?
Oh my word, yes! She's usually always wandering around in the forest by her house, exploring, or writing. Or she'll sit on her porch spring. She doesn't like to be contained.

Is she naturally curious?
Oh, most definitely! She loves to go exploring and learn new things. If she doesn't know something, she'll look it up. And more likely than not, she'll venture into an unknown situation merely for the sake of her curious nature. So that'd be a yes. :)

Charity @ CharityRocks!

(link to her comment)

Charity said...

I have a few basic questions I use when developing characters in theatre . . .These are kind of random but they really help develop a character.

Hi Charity! Thanks so much for asking these... they're random, but amazing!

Is she right or left handed?
Let's say left-handed... just to be different.

What's her favorite color?
Green, as evidenced by her Polyvore set. She also likes brown and green together.

Where is she from?
My magical land...whatever the name might be. :P She's lived in the same place all her life, in a small farmhouse in the country.

Who are her friends/enemies?
Violet, Sawyer, & Brian are her friends (the other main characters). As for her enemies... well, I haven't come up with a villain yet, but he'll be her enemy. :P

What are her quirks?
She likes to birdwatch. She writes. She hangs out in the forest for hours at a time. She is left-handed. She is very shy, and doesn't say too much. And she likes polka dots.

Is she an introvert or an extrovert?
She is the MOST introverted person you will EVER meet.

What kinds of things get on her nerves?
Nails running down a chalkboard. :P Also when people aren't loyal; when she has writer's block; when she has insomnia; when inspiration won't come; and when no one understands her.

Is she independent or does she need others to help her out?

It depends on what she's doing. She often likes to be independent of others, but that's because she's been hurt in the past. Deep down, she does want someone to help her and love her unconditionally.

How does she feel about herself?
She kind of has a low self-esteem, due to wounds of the past (not sure what they are). She's not conceited by any means, and in all honesty, is a lot harder on herself than she really should be.


Well, that was EXHAUSTING, but you guys totally made it worth it! I'm learning so much about Avary! Thanks for sending in all your questions, you all rock! ♥ And don't forget to check out the Beautiful People blog thing...*wink wink*

Bleah's post about meeting blogger friends in real life inspired me to do one of my own, since I don't think I've ever done one before. Warning: This is one of those rambling sorts of blog posts that I posted mainly for my own sense of sanity. I just needed to post about it because I can. ;) It made me feel better to think back on these awesome memories, and since I have a headache, I needed this pick-me-up. :]

I have met three blogger friends in real life. I don't normally get to do things like that, but my parents knew these girls' parents, and God worked it all out so we could meet. I loved spending time with these awesome girls!

I met Georgie Penn and her sister, Ebee, in real life July 27, 2009. Here's the blog post from my other blog.

L-R: Georgie, Me, Ebee

My heart sank as the RV pulled away. It had been an amazing, fun-filled week because of the visit of my dear friend Georgie and her family. And now they were gone.

I swallowed hard and tried to think of all the good things about their visit. It had been absolutely amazing. We hadn’t met before at all, but in no time we were getting along perfectly. She was awesome, and I was going to miss her.

I’m not sure when my friendship with Georgie started. I could say that it started when my dad and Georgie’s mom got to know each other through blogging, or when my mom and Georgie’s mom got to know each other too… or the day Georgie left a comment on my blog. Whenever it was, she and I were familiar with each other, but it wasn’t until September 1, 2008 that things really took off.

It was the day that I’d been talking to my dad about how I’d like to hook up with some more Christian homeschooled girls who shared the same essential beliefs and values that I do. In a flash, Dad mentioned Georgie, and I thought it would be fun to get to know her better. Dad pulled a few strings, and that same afternoon Blue and I had our very first IM conversation.

Over the next few months, we found out more about each other’s personalities and got a lot closer. Georgie encouraged my interest in Lord of the Rings, and now we are both big fans! One day we were discussing which hobbits we are most like, and came to the conclusion that was the birthing of our new nicknames. I said that I was going to call her Pippin, and she said I could if only she could call me Sam. So, that’s what we’ve been henceforth, thus the title.

The rest is pretty much history. Georgie and I became inseparable. We talked almost nonstop everyday. We made each other laugh, prayed for each other, and looked forward to the day when we would meet in person. Finally, this past Monday, that day came.

When Georgie and I first found out that her family might be moving to Kentucky, we were ecstatic, since I live right along that way. Like pieces to a puzzle, things fell into place. Georgie’s dad got the job, and the family prepared to move. Then they left and it was only a matter of time until they arrived.

We weren’t sure when they would get here so it was an agonizing wait for me. First I thought it might be Saturday, then they didn’t get to my home state till Sunday night, and decided they’d come on Monday but weren’t sure when. Those seemed like the longest days of my life. They surprised us on Monday afternoon though by calling to let us know they’d be here in thirty minutes. Everyone scrambled around, trying to pick up the house and make things ready for their arrival.

My family and I went outside on the grass, extremely antsy. We knew that any moment the motorhome would pull around the corner, which led to a few false alarms. When the motorhome actually did make itself known, I felt myself start to shake. She was really here!

Georgie, Ebee, and their mother hopped out of the car and started crossing the street. I wasn’t sure what to think. We met in the middle of the road, and Georgie and I hugged. Things were awkward at first; after all, we were so used to being behind a computer screen!

By the end of the week we lost any uncomfortableness we had left. We talked a lot, got caught in a severe storm, made up a story about an Evil Seaweed Qween, gave identities to toys that had no identities before, quoted movies, took a ton of photos, and laughed hysterically in the rain. It was spindackular! (Spindackular is a word we made up that means better than awesome.)

Georgie and Eyebright left yesterday. We were all really sad and since then I’ve been lonely, but no matter how hard it was to say goodbye, I wouldn’t have changed this experience for the world. I feel so much closer to them both after having met in person, and already our long-distance friendship has blossomed. It was a totally awesome time, and I’m looking forward to when we can meet again!

I have a big announcement, so listen up. Georgie Penn and I have decided to start a monthly meme for writers. Yes, that's right. I thought the idea of asking questions about our characters was really cool, so we'll be hosting a blog meme where you writers can do just that. It's called Beautiful People, because our characters are our creations and they are beautiful.

I had my moments today, but for the most part, I was ridiculously happy. Why?

Because I was wearing this:

[what i'm wearing today] by MountainFireflower

Purple tanktop, layered with a looser green one. Denim bermuda shorts. Gray shorts. And the best part? BARE FEET! :D
(and no, I didn't wear the stars. Those are decoration. ;)


For some reason, every time I put on a pair of shorts for the first time each year, it makes me SUPER-DUPER HAPPY. I guess that's because summer is my favorite season, and shorts remind me of summer. Never mind that it was freezing today, in the 40's. Never mind that it's only March. Never mind that in Colorado, spring doesn't arrive till late April or May.

It doesn't matter because when I wear shorts, I know one thing for sure.

Summer is on the way.

[and so is the post about Avary. Stay tuned! :D]

Many of you know that I did NaNoWriMo last year. If you didn't know that, click here to read the epic tale of how I managed to write 50,000 words in 30 days without even meaning to.

Well, some of you might know that NaNo has another event called Script Frenzy. And I am seriously thinking of participating.

*insert panicked scream here*

Why am I panicking, you ask? Because I've never even written a movie script. Now, my Pip tells me it shouldn't be too hard. So we'll see. My instinct is to go stock up on writing-script-books, but I don't want to overreact.

Oh. I'm overreacting already, aren't I?

Anyway, my Pip - known to some of you as Georgie Penn @ Before My Penn Has Gleaned - and I are going to write a script together. It's an epic tale about a marooned pirate, and it should be really fun. ...If we can get our plot together in time.

Hahahaha. Ha. Ha.

We've been planning this story for a couple years, though, so we can't go too wrong.

Hahahaha. Ha. Ha.

Oh well, I thrive on half-written plots! So we'll see where this goes. Are you planning to do Script Frenzy? If so, add me on your buddy list and let me know who you are - I'm ScarlettGamgee on both that site and the NaNo one. I'd love to hear from all of you crazy writers! ;)

Pip: Yeah, I've actually been thinking about it, and I came up with something cool that totally would have cleared things up and made it awesome, but that was like, two weeks ago, and I don't remember what it is.

Me: Man.

Pip: Ha, that's all you have to say? I was expecting like, a lecture on writing my ideas down, or an attempt to pump my brain into remembering, or something more than just "man." That one little word is kind of cracking me up right now.

It's gonna be an interesting month. ;)

One of the woes of a writer is all the ideas floating around in their brains. One can't possibly write all of them; and yet we try anyway. The upside is that while these ideas are incessant, it's really nice when they're around because it means that inspiration is just around the corner.
Emily Grace commented on my Polyvore set, saying she wanted to know more about Avary. Well, the problem is... I don't know. I know she likes to wear green. She likes to hide away in the woods with her books and her journal. She has curly strawberry hair and green eyes. But other than that? I have no idea.

However, you can help. I want you to ask me questions. What do you want to know about Avary? Leave a comment on this post with one or more questions about my character. I'll figure out the answer and reply in a comment on this post, and hopefully it will help me figure out a little more about who she is.

So, what do you want to know? Post away! :)

• babysat
• spent some time with a friend of mine, and this:

Now, I'm going to

•  watch TV and
• chill. 

It's been a pretty good day. What did you do? :)

I did! :)

*bounces up and down*

Last night, just after 1 am, the first draft of Reese's Pieces was completed.

This is quoted from my post on NarniaWeb in the Writer's World thread...

And now...

Drumroll please...

I finished my novel.

At 1 a.m. last night, I penned the last word of the story I've been working on since August of last year. It's been seven months of blood, sweat, and tears. And a whole lot of laughs. (Okay, kidding on the blood, sweat, and tears part. Although I'm sure you can agree that writing is hard work. )

It's kind of weird - it didn't feel as amazing as I expected it to. While I love this story, it hasn't caused me a whole lot of trouble, and the whole writing process felt really easy. I have had so many other problems with my other stories that are all sitting around on my hard drive, and they're the cause of the blood, sweat, and tears. So I guess I didn't feel as... victorious as I expected to. I was excited, yes. But I expected to be a lot more so... I don't know, maybe jump around the room or something?

Something did change in me, though. It was at that moment that I felt like a true author. Before, I liked to say "oh yeah, I'm a writer," but didn't have any finished work to show for it. Yes, I know I'm not published yet, and yes, I have a long way to go still before I can be published, but there's something about finishing your first novel. Anyone with me on that?

It's true. I really do feel like a "real" author. I'm still in shock that I've finished a novel. I had kind of given up hope on me being able to finish any story, much less a novel, and yet here I am. Thank you, God!

So, here are some stats:

Title: Reese's Pieces
First word in the story: You.
Last word in the story: Lap.
Length: Two whole notebooks, 141 pages, and approximately 65,000 words.

And just because, would you like to see what my characters wear? :) Click on the link below it and you'll get to see them bigger.

Inspired by Reese's Pieces {my novel}

I am sneaking in under the wire and participating in the Thoughts of Spring Blog Party! And I'm posting these questions right before I go to bed. ;)







My name is Kylie - although many of you know me by Sky. I am almost 15, and I love to write, as evidenced by this blog. ;)

How would people describe your personality? (If they could only use ONE word.) Are they right?
Probably creative. Yes, they're right. I create blog templates, and I write full-blown novels. Worlds spring from my fingertips. Yeah, I'd say I'm creative. Another word I really like to describe me is whimsical.


What celebrity/celebrities would create a “Star-Struck” feeling if you saw them in real life?
Hehehe. Lots.
Adam Agee. Brian Calcara. Jordan Messer. Nick Baumhardt.
Matthew Thiessen (or any guy from RK.)
Adam Young!

What is your comfort food/drink?
Ice cream, or dark chocolate. Or chips. I'm a sucker for all three.

Be brave – tell us something very random and weird about yourself.
I am wearing mismatched socks right now and I don't care. I wear mismatched socks more often than I wear matching ones.

Do you have a strong desire to do something you’ve never done? What is it?
Um, go to the beach? ;)

Movies: Action, Drama, Romantic Comedy, Documentary, Comedy? What are your favorite genres?
Action, Romance, & Comedy. Or if they're all together, that's amazing. I also really like The Dick Van Dyke Show and Dr. Quinn, but that probably doesn't count. ;)

Books: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Romance, Biographies, True Stories, Self-Help, Devotional/Study? What are your favorite types of reading material?
Fiction all the way. Sometimes non-fiction, for school. And yeah, I like romance novels.

Music: Funk, Rock, Country, Jazz, Classical, Film Score, Blues, Classic Rock, Crooner, Alternative, Heavy Metal, Techno? What are your favorite types?
Christian rock. Pretty much any Christian music. Relient K; tobyMac; Tenth Avenue North. Or crossover, like Lifehouse, Switchfoot, and Owl City.


If you inherited a million dollars, what is the first thing you would do with your money?
Pay of my parents' mortgage, and then probably go on a trip somewhere. Like Seattle. Or to the beach. That works too!


Name one weakness of yours (confession is good for the soul).
I have a temper. Yep. I do. Just ask my mom. :-/

If you could live anywhere at all (and take all your loved ones with you), where would you go?
The beach!! (Are you sensing a trend here? ;))

What is your greatest fear or strange phobia?
Forget spiders, or snakes - I fear losing someone I love. And I also fear not being good enough.

What is your greatest accomplishment?
Realizing that to live, I must die in Christ, and that in Christ alone, my hope is found.

Are you a hopeless romantic?
Yes. Oh yes. A thousand times, yes.

What movie or book character can you most relate to?
Lucy from The Chronicles of Narnia. I don't relate to her as much as I aspire to be like her. Her childlike faith in Aslan is amazing, and something I want to have with my Savior.

"For I know the plans I have for you... plans to give you a hope and a future."


-Jeremiah 29:11


I'm not sure what will happen after today. Life is always so unexpected. But I do know I have one thing no matter what: God. And because I have God, I'm not alone. I have a hope. A future.

And that's the best plan I have.

Other than that, I hope to spend time...

- playing guitar
- growing with my siblings
- catching up on school
- making more Polyvore sets
- finishing my novel(s)
- blogging
- living life
- loving God
- laughing

I want to thank you all for coming, following, commenting, and becoming my friends. My blog has been made better because of you, and I don't think I would've gotten this far without the blog challenge. So thank you. :)

And without further ado....

I'm done!!!

day 1: a favorite song.
day 2: a favorite movie.
day 3: a favorite book.
day 4: a favorite television program.
day 5: a favorite quote.
day 6: a moment you wish you could relive.
day 7: five things you couldn't possibly live without.
day 8: a thank you letter to someone who has changed your life.
day 9: a photo you took.
day 10: a photo of you taken over ten years ago.
day 11: a photo of you taken recently.
day 12: a song that you want played at your wedding(or was played).
day 13: a guilty pleasure.
day 14: a vacation you would like to take.
day 15: a person you admire.
day 16: a song that makes you cry.
day 17: an art piece.
day 18: a time when you felt passionate and alive.
day 19: a talent of yours.
day 20: a hobby of yours.
day 21: something you know you do differently than most people.
day 22: a website.
day 23: a way in which you want to be remembered.
day 24: a movie no one would expect you to love.
day 25: a recipe.
day 26: a childhood memory.
day 27: a physical feature you love.
day 28: hopes, dreams and plans you have for the next 365 days

So, it's over. I'm kind of sad about it too. Mom says I should come up with my own blogging challenge and do all new topics. If I did that, how many of you would be interested in participating? :)

Good night. :)

Uh, well... I didn't MEAN to redo my blog template. But I did.

I didn't redo too much. I left the header the same; but redid the background and a couple other things.


Oops. Still not right.
That's NOT it.
Uh, well, that works...

Another thing I notice about people is their hands.

Okay, so it's day 26... a childhood memory.

*stares at the screen*

People, I'm suffering from writer's block. Blogger's block. This isn't supposed to happen!

Well, one of my favorite childhood memories is going camping in the mountains with my family. Making s'mores, cooking hamburgers. One camping trip in particular, we ended up hanging out with a family that we knew but weren't very close to. We had invited other families, but they had all canceled for one reason or another, and we weren't sure why we had ended up spending time with this one family. It ended up that a few months after our camping trip, they ended up losing their six year old daughter. That was one of the hardest years of my life, especially because we had watched a family lose their 3-month-old baby due to an underdeveloped brain earlier that year. But God pulled me through it, and I am here to say that he never lets go.

I also love (or still love) watching train DVDs with my dad, watching chick-flicks with my mom, swinging in the backyard, playing Barbies with the lil' sis, going outside with my brother, & playing in the sandbox.

Ahhh... I miss those good old days. :)

Okay, so I'm not really that great in the kitchen. Mom would like to change that fact, but for now... I don't cook.

However, here's a recipe to have a day just like mine!

Here's what you'll need:

1 Polyvore account
1 Lazy Saturday afternoon
1 Dinner at Chipotle
1 Imagination
1 Blog

First step: Mix your Saturday afternoon, Polyvore account, and imagination together, which will create a set. Or two. Or five. In the end, it should look something like this:

Hayden & Tori's California Days

Inspired by Reese's Pieces

Violet Eyes by MountainFireflower on Polyvore.com
[^ this is probably one of my favorite sets. Ever. Even though I didn't make it today. Shh! Don't tell anyone!]

Step two: Once you have achieved the desired effect, go get a Chipotle dinner, sit down, and enjoy yourself.

Step three: After eating, go to your blog and post about it. I want to hear your recipes too! :)

This video says it all.

I liked Camp Rock 2.

The memories I have watching that movie are amazing. We watched it with our good friends' house, who turned it on right before we left. I remember begging my mom to let us stay and watch. Why? Because I'm a sucker for cotton candy-type movies, once in a while. I'm glad we stayed. I remember dancing around like crazy people at basically every song. Yes, with the Jonas Brothers.

It was the most fun dance party ever, and the Introducing Me song is one of my favorites. I mean, the idea of a guy singing a girl a song is so sweet. ;)

Yeah, was that shocking or not so much?

"Now you probably know more than you ever wanted to so be careful when you ask next time..."

;)

I want to be remembered for loving without abandon, for showing crazy love and for living by grace. I want to be remembered as someone who held her arms high towards her savior. I want to be remembered as someone who served and loved unconditionally. I want to be remembered as someone who laughed often and danced in the rain. I want to be remembered for not who I was, but for the God I served, and the One I will spend eternity with forever. I want to remembered for my stand of surrender.

You stood before creation
Eternity within Your hand
You spoke the earth into motion
My soul now to stand

You stood before my failure
Carried the Cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon Your shoulders
My soul now to stand

So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You

So I'll walk upon salvation
Your Spirit alive in me
This life to declare Your promise
My soul now to stand

So what can I say
What can I do
But offer this heart O God
Completely to You

So I'll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all

So I'll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours

With arms high and heart abandoned... I will stand. All I am is His.

I am a website junkie. I love websites, as evidenced by the fact that I have a blog and follow many.

So, excuse me if this post is a little...scattered.

First off, I need to put up a blurb about one of my favoritest websites of all - NarniaWeb. I found out about NarniaWeb a few years back, when Prince Caspian was in pre-production. I think I was looking for who was going to play King Miraz. Since then, that's been my #1 source for Narnia news. (Because you all know I'm a Narnia fanatic.)

This past May, I finally got up the courage to ask my dad if I could join the NarniaWeb forums. I had lurked there for a while but never really thought about joining. One day I asked if he would let me join, he said yes, and that was that. I signed up as MountainFireflower - a little known alias of mine - and since then, I've been nicknamed Mountie, Miff, Fireflower, and Fie, among other things. I absolutely love the forums now. The camaraderie there is amazing - we're just one big group of Narnia fans talking about what we love. I've enjoyed experiencing the Games & Blogs, the movie discussion, and Ditto Town. There are so many things that have made me laugh there - such as Square Onions and whether Narnia has rubber. I have met so many amazing people there, and in many ways, it has been a great outlet for me to discuss one of my many fandoms. :P I even reconnected with Lia, one of the VERY first friends I met when I first started blogging five years ago! :D If you're a Narnia fan, please go check it out. It's so fun. :)

Okay, now I can continue to the other websites.

Kids of Faith Online Magazine - I started this magazine three years ago, and it's been amazing how God has used it in my life. It's been a long journey, but God, my friends, and I came together to present you KOF, a magazine all about Jesus, how he works in our lives, and childlike faith. I hope you visit! Our next issue is in the works. :)

Orli Mag - I was recently asked to be a writer for this magazine, and I am so, so, so excited, because it's the first time I'll be published in something that I don't manage. I've been published in KOF before, but this is something new and exciting. So go check it out!

Ashen Sky {Life} - My random blog. With my random friend. Ashley and I met this past November, and we started this blog to document our writing journey, since we've cowritten several, unpublished books together. If you're even remotely interested in our random ramblings about bacon and other such things, go check it out.

Blue Sky Graphics - My Pip and I started this blog to showcase the graphics we've made in our random bursts of inspiration. We recently moved to Blogger, and we're working on getting back on our feet. We make graphics for your use, so if you're interested, well... you know where to go. ;)

Okay, now that I've exhausted myself talking about me... me, me, me... it's about you. What are your favorite websites? (Please keep it G-rated. Thank you!)

day 1: a favorite song.
day 2: a favorite movie.
day 3: a favorite book.
day 4: a favorite television program.
day 5: a favorite quote.
day 6: a moment you wish you could relive.
day 7: five things you couldn't possibly live without.
day 8: a thank you letter to someone who has changed your life.
day 9: a photo you took.
day 10: a photo of you taken over ten years ago.
day 11: a photo of you taken recently.
day 12: a song that you want played at your wedding(or was played).
day 13: a guilty pleasure.
day 14: a vacation you would like to take.
day 15: a person you admire.
day 16: a song that makes you cry.
day 17: an art piece.
day 18: a time when you felt passionate and alive.
day 19: a talent of yours.
day 20: a hobby of yours.
day 21: something you know you do differently than most people.
day 22: a website.
day 23: a way in which you want to be remembered.
day 24: a movie no one would expect you to love.
day 25: a recipe.
day 26: a childhood memory.
day 27: a physical feature you love.
day 28: hopes, dreams and plans you have for the next 365 days

Um, seriously? I hate to break it to you, but... I'm different.


I'm homeschooled. I have chronic pain. And the best part? I'm not of this world.


Buuuut... I'll go with it.

I'm about to make a big confession. Ready? Ready? Wait for it...

I swish my milk when I drink it.


Yes, it's true. *hides face* I swish. It's gotten to the point where people look at me funny when they hear me swish. No matter what I'm drinking, I always have to swish it a couple times before I swallow.

So there ya have it. Brutal confessions from the girl behind the computer screen.