Asrai Devin's Blog, page 17

We have cookies!

The other day I stumbled upon this, which someone can buy for me:

Come to the dark side. We have cookies.

Hee. But it reminded me of this:

Perhaps some better security is needed here.

What would it take to lure you to the dark side? For me, pretty boys.

Tagged: Asrai Devin, Baking and Confections, Cookies, Cooking, Dragon Ages Origins, funny, Holiday Cookies, Sten, Templers, the dark side

Blogger Awards

I usually don't do these. I know I've gotten a couple awards that I never passed on. I dislike obligating people to pass theirs on, but I thought what the hey, I don't really know where my story is going so i'm going to take a break and read some blogs and write something up as well.

So thank you to all the people who've given me blogger awards that I failed to pass on. It's not you, it's me.

And thank you to Prudence MacLeod for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger award. Ms. MacLeod writes wonderful fiction and also lives in a place that makes me jealous!

Ladies, thank you all so very much. This is indeed awesome. Now, here are the rules of the game. You get the award and you must:
1.      Thank the person who gave it to you.
2.      List a number of random facts about yourself seven for the Versatile Blogger award. So ten should do the trick.
3.      Pass the award along to other deserving bloggers, fifteen for the Versatile Blogger. Then you have to let them know they've won.
4.      If you so desire, display the awards on your blog. You can pick them from this post easily.

Well, I'll skip the fifteen part, and only give it to handful (half of whom have probably received it already). But first, my seven random facts.

1. I am short. 5'2.5″ that .5 is REALLy important when you are this short.
2. I have tiny feet. I wear a size 5.5 sometimes 6, and occasionally a 5. In women's.
3. I am very scattered. I love to start projects and never finish, I rarely know the day of the week. I need a big visual wall chart and bells that go off to signify the next activity. I do much better with structure, but I can't set it up myself.
4. My two favorite bands in high school were Nine Inch Nails and Backstreet Boys.
5. I am totally addicted to Dragon Ages. I am totally in love with the story and the characters. Alistair … I LOVE YOU.
Sorry.
6. I love crafts, especially crocheting. But sewing is good too. I've tried to learn to knit but I get frustrated because there is no hook to keep the loop on the needle. I really should learn to Tunisian crochet, I think I'd be happier.
7. I am an introvert, but I'm also a loudmouth with my opinions. But I spend a lot of time thinking about myself and why I act the way I do.

Okay passing this blog award on to:
Kristy K James. http://kristykjames.wordpress.com
Jayrod Garrett http://the1stog.blogspot.com/
Lara Valentine http://eroticromancewriting.wordpress.com/

Don't feel obligated to pass it on. :)

#Row80 February 1 Checkin

Writing goals: Sent my book off to my betas and haven't heard back. Which is fine, because I haven't finished reading my one partner's either. It's too freaking hot, I keep having to stop and take a cold shower.

So I've been plotting my next book. I have the first few scenes plotted out. I have a general overview in my head, I just don't know the specifics, so I'm letting it come as I write.Starting tonight I will be tracking word count.

Blogging goals: I read a really good post about pacing yourself and setting a blogging schedule. And then I didn't bookmark it. I copied what I wanted, as soon as I find the link I'll update this.

Personal goals: I have not been exercising because I was busy trying to cough up my lungs. That has almost passed, so hopefully it will be back to normal. Flylady has been going well. I decluttered Zone 5 and am working on Zone 1 now.

 

Tagged: Asrai Devin, blogging, blogging goals, Round of Word, row80, row80 goals, Word count, Writers Resources, writing goals

Rose coloured past

I read this really great article on HuffPost Canada, parents division (Is there a part of life that huff doesn't cover? okay i don't think they have a jail version, any day now-HuffPost i want full credit on that one!) titled Don't Carpe Diem. It really wasn't about seizing the day, but more about enjoying every minute, in the author's view enjoying parenting.

It's great to look back and say, man last year was great we did all this awesome stuff. Truthfully, most of it wasn't that great. We just quickly glaze over the daily grind, the struggles, and just the stuff that makes us happy to go to bed and be unconscious for a few hours.

This isn't just parenting either.

Working sucks. Even if you have your dream job that you love, you still struggle. There is still shit to deal with that you don't want to. As the article quotes a famous author saying "I don't love writing, I  love having written." (Who is this famous author butchering the English language anyway? His/her quote doesn't make sense) There are parts you love and parts you hate.

Other things that suck: cooking, entertaining, cleaning house, writing blog posts, researching, grocery shopping, decluttering, taking the garbage out AND sitting through an entire episode of that show you hate but someone you love loves. (This is a short list, not at all comprehensive of things that sometimes suck).

You know what is great: eating delicious food, spending time with loved ones, not tripping over toys, getting comments from readers, having people tell ne I'm right, having food in the house, more space in the house, the people who drive by and take our garbage out  of sight and out of mind, and spending quality time with special someone. (Again, list is not meant to be comprehensive).

Do you have rose coloured glasses of the past and expect them of the present as well?

Maybe i'm wrong, can someone enjoy every moment?

 

Tagged: adulthood, Asrai Devin, Author, Canada, grown-up, huffington Pst, HuffPost, motherhood, mothering, parenting, rose colored glasses, work life

Interspiration #1282012

So you think I'm a bitch? http://bit.ly/xsnRAF

Pie day? Now I'm hungry! http://bit.ly/y433f3

Thoughts on luck. http://bit.ly/zKzLav

The girl with 7 horses. http://bit.ly/w2jHri

Parenting VS Fighting Evil

I was going to make this parenting VS fighting darkspawn (ala Dragon Ages) but I thought I would branch out.

My daughter and I were leaving the grocery store and my 2 year old protested when I picked him up to go to our vehicle. Protested is an euphemism, he screamed in my ear at the top of his lungs.

I looked at my daughter and said, I'd rather fight evil then deal with him right now. And we started joking about ways that parenting is harder then fighting evil.

1. Options.

Parenting: a variety of options which range from passive (give into the child), assertive and positive (nurture the emotions but don't give in on the limits you set), aggressive (my way or the highway) or even physical.

Fighting evil: Always aggressive and always physical. Stab, hurt, end.

2. What`s best for me.

Parenting: once you have children what works for the parent is a distant second to the child's needs. Most of the time.

Fighting evil: this thing needs to die. Stab, hurt end.

3. Weapons

Parenting: my wits, and some days I'm pretty sure I've come to the battle unarmed and without enough armour.

Fighting Evil: swords, cross bows, arrows, daggers, hands, feet, and if you are lucky magic.

4. Victory

Parenting: once you are labelled parent, no matter how it comes about, you are a parent to that child(ren) for the rest of your life. I suppose if you get your children off to college and then living on their own, you could claim victory, but there are lots of little bumps ahead  yet.

Fighting evil: if you've done your job, the evil is ended and you can go the local tavern and celebrate with any companions who may have survived. If you haven't done your job, evil has taken over the entire world and you are the one who is dead.

5. Allies

Parenting: I have a husband, and my Sister-in-law. My mom lives far away, my dad is recovering from back surgery and we recently moved and I don't have many friends here yet. My husband is pretty good, but he works long hours.

Fighting evil: a motley crew of various characters who can run from crazy to insanely loyal to people who tag along and bitch about it the whole time. But at least they are well-armed.

What would you prefer parenting or fighting evil?

Tagged: Asrai Devin, child, darkspawn, dragon ages, Evil, Facebook, Family, Home, Mother, Parent, parenting, Video Games

#Row80 Checkin January 25

This week in the life of Asrai: husband got a truck loan, so I get to drive the new truck, because he's selling the old truck and neither of us feel safe with the kids in the micro-car. It's a Kia Rio.

I finished Dragon Ages: Origins and become Queen!! of Ferelden. I

And my son wound up with a chest infection and on antibiotics and now I have a cough. So, I'm whiney. On with the goals.

Writing goals:

Edit 5 days a week, 1 hour a day   After editing is done, write 250 words 5 days a week or 1250 words per week.

I'm not even tracking the hour anymore. But I am beginning to hate the book I was editing so I decided it was time for beta readers and I'll go onto the next book. I haven't looked at it since October.

Personal:

Get outside 5 days a week.

Since we are all dying, we walk to and from school because it's super close and it's super warm this week. (Yeah thanks weather and furnace, couldn't have gone out THIS week).

Exercise with EA active 4 times per week

I'm several work-outs behind. See above whining for why I've fallen behind.

Plan meals (gotta get our budget under control).

All meals planned for this week. Sweet.

Read one book and watch one movie a week as per the fifty-fifty challenge.

Almost done Carly Philips book "Kiss Me If You Can". Not sure if I'll do a fiction or non-fiction next. I'm trying to alternate but I'm reading this one and Indie Journey at the same time. I guess it should be a fiction I start next since I started the fiction one first … okay I'm babbling.

Go to bed by 11 PM

It's 11:30 right now, so I'm not making it today. I've been playing with pintrest and Goodreads (applying for the author program).

Tagged: Asrai Devin, goal setting, goals, Happiness Project, Health, Physical exercise, Round of Words, row80, row80 goals, Scott Nicholson, Seasonal affective disorder, Star Wars, Twitter

Dining Room Tables

We bought an okay dining room table set 6 years ago. The chairs were white and we had a 3 year old, they are stained. The table top is pitted in places. Hubby has been pushing for a new table, but I said I'm going to strip it, disassemble and paint it.

Only I don't know what colours to go with. I saw a table painted yellow on Property Brothers a few days ago. Bright yellow.

After I paint the table I may have to paint the china cabinet as well.  The top is wood and the legs are metal. The top can stay as is, if it has to, but the legs need to be changed. i don't want to go all dark because we are doing dark furniture in the living room and I need something else. Here is some of my inspiration so far:

i like the colour, maybe too much blue and the metal chairs are great.

eclectic dining room design

This would go with some pictures I purchased recently. i like the distressed look. I could do something simliar on the china cabinet.

modern family room design by hawaii interior designer Archipelago Hawaii, refined island designs
i love the dark green chairs in this one.


eclectic dining room design by austin interior designer Terri Symington, ASID
i am loving this fabric. It is a faux leather.















This table is wacky!

Striped table

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm 2 hours behind schedule now and no further ahead with my dining room plans.

Creating new habits: The world around you

There is a story in Switch about a factory that used a flammable chemical in their process. Not surprising was there were a number of fires. The head of the company sent a memo asking workers not to set fires. I never figured out if it was a true story os just a point.

Often we believe that problems occur because of people either in their rational minds or emotional ones, and if they just tried harder theyd change. But sometimes it is the world around us that just needs to be changed.

1) Change the environment. We all follow the path to least resistance, so make things easy. Or at least visible. A sticky note, not turning on the TV or computer until you've done X amount of work, going somewhere you don't have Internet so you can work.

2) Habits. Flylady talks a lot about making habits or routines. I have a bad habit of vegging after supper and leaving the dishes until morning. Instead I've been unloading the dishwasher first thing and loading it right after supper.

3) Use peer pressure. The best way to keep a gaol or resolution is to have at least one partner doing it with you. If you promise a friend to meet at the gym every day you are less likely to skip gym sessions. Or for writing check the #Row80 and #amwriting hashtags for writing sprints. We succeed in groups. #WAna1011

Tagged: Asrai Devin, Business, Chip Heath, Consulting, Dan Heath, goals, habits, Management, Organizational Change, Religious habit, Switch, Television

#Row80 Checkin January 22

I'm changing my goals this week. I've realized somethings I set are not working for me, and since they are my goals I'm changing them. I felt better immediately after I decided to do so earlier in the week.

Writing goals:

Edit 5 days a week, 1 hour a day   After editing is done, write 250 words 5 days a week or 1250 words per week.

I'm barely getting my editing in never mind my writing, so I dropped the writing goal. And I'm dropping the hour goal, as long as I get at least one chapter edited, I'm calling it success. So far I've been successful since our furnace came back to life.

The change was to protect my new bedtime of 11 PM, I need to get my son up earlier so bedtime for me has to get earlier.

Blog goals:

More guest posting: both getting and giving. Going to aim for 2 a month for Jan and Feb, one a week for March.

Dumping this goal. I hate reaching out to people. I'm stressed over just keeping up with my blog. So I'm just going to blog, connect via Twitter and do my mash-ups and call it good.

Working out a schedule in a spreadsheet, because I'm a geek.

I want back to this but it's not really working for me. Maybe when the boy-child is off antibiotics and I'm sleeping at night.

Personal:

Get outside 5 days a week.

Haha. It was below -20 all week. I had to drive my daughter to school, we live 3 blocks away. There was no recess, buses didn't run most of the week. And then my son wound up with a chest infection. Someday it will warm up and we won't be sick. Before we moved to oiltown, we NEVER got sick. Since we got here, we've been sick constantly. It might be all the damned wind. I so want to move back to Central Alberta.

Exercise with EA active

I missed one work-out last week. 4 days on, 3 days off. But I'm less excited about exercising, but I have noticed a change in my endurance and muscle strength. I'm not trying to lose weight (I'm sadly underweight) but I have to exercise to stave off Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Plan meals (gotta get our budget under control).

Doing well. Been using up some freezer stuff since I didn't get to shop on my usual day, Tuesday thanks to furnace-gate.

Read one book and watch one movie a week as per the fifty-fifty challenge.

Lord, I have to get a list of these. I lost my notebook. I had a bunch of late books from the library so I got banned from borrowing E-books as well. But I fixed that. I read "Write Good or Die" edited by Scott Nicholson but it was written before the e-book boom so half of it was related to making pitches, which I skipped. When I finish The Indie Journey, I will count the two of them as one book.

Oh I did finish The Happiness Project.

And I immediately thought "I should start my own project" and then I thought of all the other things I had going on and how crappy I was feeling about not keeping up, and I ditched the idea. I didn't watch a movie, unless you count the last half hour of  the second Star Wars movie, which was on when I got up the other morning. My husband had fallen asleep on the sofa while watching and it went on repeat. My son was excited to see "bain-bain" or airplanes so early in the day.

Happy birthday to my mom.

Tomorrow I will watch a movie. Not sure what yet, something child-friendly. Or with pretty guys in it.

The other goal I'm adding, which I'm not really tracking, is just keeping my sink shiny again. I've been slacking on routines once again after the holidays and illness and furnace-gate. So, I'm doing minimalism and just doing the shiny sink thing, and it's working. I'm getting dishes done consistently before bed.

Tagged: Asrai Devin, goal setting, goals, Happiness Project, Health, Physical exercise, Round of Words, row80, row80 goals, Scott Nicholson, Seasonal affective disorder, Star Wars, Twitter