Laina Turner's Blog, page 121

Maybe not planning is okay?

I am a big fan of planning. My day, my week, my month, my life. Usually. However, for some reason the last few months I have gotten extremely off track and have been going through my day willy-nilly as my grandma used to say (she also said things like “oh piffle” which I still have no idea what it means). I am not sure why or how I got off track and frankly I haven’t enjoyed it all that much because I feel my productivity has went way down. I even thought today I should join an accountability group to get me back on track. Then I was on Facebook, you know an important part of everyone’s day, and saw this saying.

So maybe not planning is a good thing? Ha ha!

This saying does give me a good excuse but the not planning is driving me crazy. It’s just that sometimes planning and looking at a list of things I need to do each day on paper seems much more daunting than when its in my head. Forgetting half the things I need to get done is an unfortunate by-product of keeping it in my head. So neither method is perfect. I have committed to starting again my pattern of planning that has worked for me in the past and stick to it. It’s just hard finding enough time for my daily naps:)

Do you schedule out each day or do you work off a to do list that just rolls over? Is there another method that works good for you? I would love to hear it.

Laina

Having a thick skin

Life isn’t easy. Not any way you look at it. Usually I like to think of the rough things that happen along the highway of life as learning tools and things that happen for a reason to make me a better person. However, sometimes things happen can really get to me as I’m sure they get to all of us. When that happens you have a couple choices. You can let it get you down, frustrate you, and you can give up OR you can accept it for what it is and allow it to make you a better and stronger person.

Now there’s nothing wrong with wallowing in self pity and some rocky road ice cream but once your allotted wallow time is over you need to pull your big girl panties on and get back to doing what you do best. And that’s being you! Doing whatever it is that makes you happy. Don’t let self doubt, criticism, or frustration get you off track to the path you wish to pursue. Let the things that create negativity in your mind roll off your back and not sink in. You’re better than that. You are YOU and that’s a pretty awesome thing!

I almost peed my pants

[image error]Wallflower in Bloom by Claire Cook was OMG, rip roaring, hilarious! I laughed out loud so many times that my significant other went into the other room to work (I think spitting wine out my nose was the last straw for him).

While I also enjoyed Claire’s first book, Must Love Dogs which turned into a major motion picture, this book topped that one in my humble opinion. Why? because it was so real. Claire created the main character Deirdre Griffin as every normal woman often sees herself. A little chubby, a little out of shape, a little bored, a little boring, and just not the bright shiny selves we once thought we were in our twenties when we still thought we were invincible and varicose veins and grey hair was something that happened to other people not us. But she did it in a way that wasn’t self deprecating or overly woe is me. It was more, “hey what the hell happened to me and I’m going to make a change today if it kills me” kind of spunk.

The twist that Claire adds with Deirdre getting herself voted on to Dancing with the Stars as a non celebrity dancer is again a believable tale and one many of us women can identify with as being a fun thing we would love to try.

The writing is funny, well crafted, and fast paced. I picked it up and I read the whole thing. A few days later I read it again because I was in a bad mood and even though I knew what was going to happen I wanted to cheer myself up. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good laugh!

5 stars

Laina

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Having a thick skin

[image error]Life isn’t easy. Not any way you look at it. Usually I like to think of the rough things that happen along the highway of life as learning tools and things that happen for a reason to make me a better person. However, sometimes things happen can really get to me as I’m sure they get to all of us. When that happens you have a couple choices. You can let it get you down, frustrate you, and you can give up OR you can accept it for what it is and allow it to make you a better and stronger person.

Now there’s nothing wrong with wallowing in self pity and some rocky road ice cream but once your allotted wallow time is over you need to pull your big girl panties on and get back to doing what you do best. And that’s being you! Doing whatever it is that makes you happy. Don’t let self doubt, criticism, or frustration get you off track to the path you wish to pursue. Let the things that create negativity in your mind roll off your back and not sink in. You’re better than that. You are YOU and that’s a pretty awesome thing!

Laina

 

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Maybe not planning is ok??

I am a big fan of planning. My day, my week, my month, my life. Usually. However, for some reason the last few months I have gotten extremely off track and have been going through my day willy-nilly as my grandma used to say (she also said things like “oh piffle” which I still have no idea what it means). I am not sure why or how I got off track and frankly I haven’t enjoyed it all that much because I feel my productivity has went way down. I even thought today I should join an accountability group to get me back on track. Then I was on Facebook, you know an important part of everyone’s day, and saw this saying.

So maybe not planning is a good thing? Ha ha!

This saying does give me a good excuse but the not planning is driving me crazy. It’s just that sometimes planning and looking at a list of things I need to do each day on paper seems much more daunting than when its in my head. Forgetting half the things I need to get done is an unfortunate by-product of keeping it in my head. So neither method is perfect. I have committed to starting again my pattern of planning that has worked for me in the past and stick to it. It’s just hard finding enough time for my daily naps:)

Do you schedule out each day or do you work off a to do list that just rolls over? Is there another method that works good for you? I would love to hear it.

Laina

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I almost peed my pants

Wallflower in Bloom by Claire Cook was OMG, rip roaring, hilarious! I laughed out loud so many times that my significant other went into the other room to work (I think spitting wine out my nose was the last straw for him).

While I also enjoyed Claire’s first book, Must Love Dogs which turned into a major motion picture, this book topped that one in my humble opinion. Why? because it was so real. Claire created the main character Deirdre Griffin as every normal woman often sees herself. A little chubby, a little out of shape, a little bored, a little boring, and just not the bright shiny selves we once thought we were in our twenties when we still thought we were invincible and varicose veins and grey hair was something that happened to other people not us. But she did it in a way that wasn’t self deprecating or overly woe is me. It was more, “hey what the hell happened to me and I’m going to make a change today if it kills me” kind of spunk.

The twist that Claire adds with Deirdre getting herself voted on to Dancing with the Stars as a non celebrity dancer is again a believable tale and one many of us women can identify with as being a fun thing we would love to try.

The writing is funny, well crafted, and fast paced. I picked it up and I read the whole thing. A few days later I read it again because I was in a bad mood and even though I knew what was going to happen I wanted to cheer myself up. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good laugh!

5 stars

Laina

World MS Day

The MS Project

 

The MS Project is a collection of things created to raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. Consisting of a book, a website, apparel, and an iPhone app these elements work together to bring more attention to the disease, teach people, and create a strong community.

 

The book – Volume 1 was released in March, 2011 and Volume 2 was released March 2012. The books are a collection of stories written by people afflicted by Multiple Sclerosis, or who have loved ones afflicted. This book is meant to be informational regarding the disease as experienced by real people and to showcase the amazing strength people find when facing adversity.

 

The iPhone app – is a tool to create awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. Connected to The MS Project website the app will include a feed from the blog to provide access to the MS community and a wealth of knowledge.

 

The website – is a social networking site where people passionate about raising awareness for the disease can become members and get to know one another. The goal is to create a community to provide support, awareness, and motivation to people within and outside the community. You can currently access the website at http://www.themsproject.com.

 

The MS Project, the book, Volumes 1 & 2, are now available for – purchase on Amazon. Volume 1 Volume 2.

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4 Steps to making a living as an indie author

I was inspired for this blog post by the clip from the movie, Something About Mary, where Harlan Wayan’s character is in the car with Ben Stiller talking about 7 minute abs. Now if you haven’t seen this movie you must watch the clip below but the reason it inspired me is because Harlan’s character came up with 7 minute abs to beat out competitor 8 minutes abs because who wouldn’t want to get great abs in 7 minutes instead of 8? We ( I know myself definitely and am assuming you as well) like a step by step process that will get us to our goal in as few of those steps as possible. Am I right? Thought so. So here are my 4 steps to making a living as an indie author:

1. Write a book

2. Self Publish the book

3. Market the book

4. Repeat

See? 4 steps. Notice I didn’t say easy steps or quick steps. None of those steps are either quick or easy. In fact they are downright difficult and there are so many pieces to each step and just as many pieces I haven’t even figured out yet. There’s no magic formula but then that’s also some of the fun of it. The trial and error part. Seeing what works and what doesn’t. If life were easy it wouldn’t be so much fun.

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MOST WANTED: Pursuing Whitey Bulger, the Murderous Mob Chief the FBI Secretly Protected.

[image error]I admit I’m a sucker for anything true crime. I love to watch A & E’s City Confidential, Investigative Reports, American Justice, and Cold Case Files just to name a few. Any story seems more interesting to me when it’s true. Even if it’s just about the neighbor across the street. This profile about James “Whitey” Bulger was no different. However, I found it even more interesting because this wasn’t just some story about the life and crimes of a regular mob dude. This was a criminal that did absolutely horrible things, who killed many people at for some time was #1 on the FBI’s most wanted list but due to various reasons (I won’t spoil the book) the FBI not only turned the other way when it came to apprehending him but at times even gave Whitey information to avoid capture. To be a regular law abiding citizen who for the most part belies in justice and the truth will prevail and all that, this was the element that kept me up late reading so I could finish this book.

The story is interesting and the pace at which it is written is great. It told the entire story without bogging down due to too much information. It unraveled in such a  way that kept me shaking my head not believing at times what I was reading. I found myself Googling Tom Foley, John Connolly, and several other key players because I wanted even more background information.

I would recommend this book. I give it 5 stars!

Laina

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Clutter

We all have it. Well at least I like to think that we all have it. I was looking around the house today, at the clutter, thinking about ho I needed to do something about it. Not only is it annoying, I don’t want to see all this crap lying around, but for anyone who has read self help books you now that to declutter your space and your mind allows for new, even better things to come to you. So here are the things that are taking up space, the clutter, that I just can’t bear to part with.

Boxes of books. Not only do I have book shelves full of books but I have totes in the garage full of books. I’m not talking about expensive books or collectors editions, I’m talking about paperback Janet Evanovich books or Stori Telling by Tori Spelling. I just love books and hate to get rid of them but the reality is I rarely read a physical book these days. I read ebooks on my reader, my laptop, or my phone so do I really need all those?
Clothes. I have clothes I haven’t worn in years, cloths that are “fat” or “skinny” that again haven’t worn in at least a few seasons. Clothes with the tags still on that I hate to get rid of “just in case” just in case what? They take up so much space.
Notecards and other paper products. I love to buy notebooks, notecards, fun paper and again I have totes of the stuff that I have every intention of using but I keep buying more so I never have the chance to use it all.
Misc crap. Such as a zillion USB adapters, old phone chargers, a heated coaster for my coffee mug that I haven’t used in years, and things I’m not even sure what they are.
Kids stuff. Where is the limit here? I don’t want to toss all my kids artwork and drawings out but I am not a scrapbooker so I just have boxes of the stuff. I feel so guilty tossing it out.

I know if I go with my first instinct on what to get rid of it will declutter fabulously and I will never miss the stuff. But then there’s that “what if” what if three years from now I need it?

I never used to be like this. I used to systematically go through my house every six months and toss what very hadn’t been used or thought of within the last six months (not counting seasonal stuff) but after many life changing events I just am not as willing to get rid of things. Silly but true and something I really need to get over. I read something in a book that said “holding on to things you don’t need allows you to hold on to what you were, not embrace what you are now.” I definitely need to embrace the now!

 

How do you deal with clutter?

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