Beth Overmyer's Blog: The Blog of Beth Overmyer, page 43

The NaNoWriMo Playlist '14

Anyone else participating in National Novel Writing Month? I am! Here's my playlist for the month of November (yes, I realize I accidentally doubled up on some songs...and this isn't a complete list. I'm hoping to add some other tunes before October ends):

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Feel free to share your playlist below!

The Mom-To-Be: A Gift List

As promised, here are some more gift ideas. This time, I'm sharing helpful gifts for moms-to-be...

The Mom Wishlist

1. Belly Bands - These stretchy bands fit around your expanding waistline and help keep your pants up and cover XYZs (examine your zipper.) Available from Amazon starting at $16.95 (as of 9/7/14.)

2. Morning Sickness Soothers - These scented soothers fit into your nostrils and help mask or block odors. My sister used these a few times during her pregnancy, and she found them very useful. Available from the Morning Sickness Soothers website and Amazon in a variety of scents. $14.95 (as of 9/7/14.)

3. Stretch Oil - Earth Mama Angel Baby Stretch Oil is hypoallergenic and is made of all natural oils. It's said to help with itchiness of stretching skin. Available from Amazon in different sizes, starting at $11.79 (as of 9/7/14.)

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Anything any moms out there would like to add?

Shelfie!

Here 'tis a gathering (grouping? Gaggle? Flock? Herd? Murder?! Okay, library) of books I really enjoy. This is maybe 1/16 of my collection...


...

And a cheeky picture of yours truly:

The Science Freak: A Wish List Post

Thought I'd abandoned you? Not a chance. Here are some more ideas to help you shop for the loved or tolerated ones in your life:

The Science Freak
Not sure what to get the mad scientist in your life? Read on:

1. ThinkGeek gift certificate - Spend some time on this site and you'll see why this made the list. So many fun things for the "geek" in your life.

2. Noble Gases T-shirt - This t-shirt is hilarious (to me, at least.) The link I gave you shows the women's tee, but there's a men's one as well. Starting at $18.99 (as of 9/7/2014) on Amazon.

3. Star Wars Light-Up Chopsticks - These sound fun, but might be hard to actually eat with (according to at least one reviewer.) More of a novelty...but an awesome one! Available from ThinkGeek for $14.99 (as of 9/7/14.)

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Are you a scientist? Have any gift suggestions?

Elixir Bound (YA fantasy) by Katie L. Carroll

Katora Kase is next in line to take over as guardian to a secret and powerful healing Elixir. Now she must journey into the wilds of Faway Forest to find the ingredient that gives the Elixir its potency. Even though she has her sister and brother, an old family friend, and the handsome son of a mapmaker as companions, she feels alone.
It is her decision alone whether or not to bind herself to the Elixir to serve and protect it until it chooses a new guardian. The forest hosts many dangers, including wicked beings that will stop at nothing to gain power, but the biggest danger Katora may face is whether or not to open up her heart to love.



Ebook on sale for $.99 until September 27:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Elixir-Bound-Katie-L-Carroll-ebook/dp/B0093CL4OM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1385863834MuseItUp bookstore: http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/now-available-in-ebook/elixir-bound-432-detail
Signed paperback giveaway on Goodreads until September 28: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15821579-elixir-bound
About the Author:

Katie L. Carroll began writing at a very sad time in her life after her 16-year-old sister, Kylene, unexpectedly passed away. Since then writing has taken her to many wonderful places, real and imagined. She wrote ELIXIR BOUND and the forthcoming ELIXIR SAVED so Kylene could live on in the pages of a book. Katie is also the author of the picture app THE BEDTIME KNIGHT and an editor for MuseItUp Publishing. She lives not too far from the beach in a small Connecticut city with her husband and son. For more about Katie, visit her website at www.katielcarroll.comand follow her on Twitter(@KatieLCarroll) or Tumblr.

Remain Calm!

Do not even think about panicking. Everything is under control. I'm here to help you and guide you through this. But you might want to sit down.
Are you sitting? Good.
THREE MONTHS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!
Still calm? No?
If you're like me, you started your Christmas shopping back in January...or not. BUT! before you start throwing rotten looks (or fruit) at me, remember what I said: I'm here to help. That's why, starting today, I will post gift ideas every shopping week until Christmas come.
There should be something for every person in your life in these lists--and not all of them will be books. Let's get started, shall we?
The Writer's Wishlist Have a writer in your life? Here are some things he or she will adore!
1. Aqua Notes - Waterproof notepad (40 sheets) with a pencil and pencil holder. A handy-dandy tool for those shower moments when you have a writing idea, but you're all lathered up. $7.85 (as of 9/7/14) at Amazon. (Note: A helpful user suggested not tearing off pages until they are dry.)
2. Platform by Michael Hyatt - A book about being heard in this noisy world. A great idea for a published (or aspiring to be published) writer. It's just a myth that authors don't have to promote their work somehow. $14.90 (as of 9/7/14) from Barnes and Noble.
3. Penguin Mints - These caffeinated mints are great for that writer in your life who's prone to pulling all-nighters. Plus, the candies are quite tasty... $3.99 for a single tin (as of 9/7/14) from ThinkGeek.
4. A Panera Gift Card - The restaurant has great food and (usually) a peaceful atmosphere, the perfect place for a writer to take their laptop (or stone and chisel) for a few hours. Gift cards can be purchased online, at the restaurant itself, or at participating stores (some Kohl's stores sell these year round.)
__Are you excited for the holiday season? Terrified? Ready for Halloween and Thanksgiving but don't even want to THINK about the winter holidays?

Ta-DONE!

Today's DONE list:

- Colored (see ME get my artist on!)
- Cleaned up after the cats ('cause the bums are lazy...and don't have thumbs)
- Listened to French music (oui or whatever)
- KP Duty
- Got up at the butt crack of dawn...actually, it was earlier than that. It was like, the mid-back of dawn...four in the morning.

*is punchy* *is running on caffeine fumes* *should probably not hit "publish"* *hits "publish" anyway*

Another PSA

       Mel works at Global Associates. Over the years, she’s received many letters from John Jacobs Senior, the building’s owner. John Jacobs Junior has also sent letters. In fact, he’s visited the building, but Mel has never seen more than news coverage of it. “He could be anybody,” she’s always says. “There’s no proof that he’s John Jacobs Junior, or that there is a John Jacobs Junior…or Senior for that matter.” Many times, she’s heard of a package down in the mail room for her from the Jacobses. Everyone has been offered an identical parcel, and Mel knows what’s in it: a key to the Jacobs’ penthouse…if there is such a thing. You see, Mel never sees beyond the office, and has never bothered to accept the gift she hardly believes is real.
                Then there’s Dave. Like Mel, he’s heard of John Jacobs Senior and Junior and has received many letters. He believes that the Jacobses exist and that the penthouse is the real deal. And while he realizes it’s there, he doesn’t believe in the key. Instead, he insists that his own set of keys can and will open the door. He believes that anyone’s own key will fit and open the front gate.
                Brittany doesn’t believe in the Jacobses, the penthouse, or the key. She believes there is Global Associates, her life, and that is it.
                Tony, on the other hand, hasn’t met Jacobs Jr., but they’ve been corresponding. See, they’re friends now because John Jacobs Junior gave him the key to his dad’s penthouse. Tony hasn’t gone yet, but he knows that when he gets there, the gate will open.
Carrie has never heard of the Jacobses, though she works in their building and there are pictures of them everywhere. At this moment, someone is on their way over to tell her about the Jacobses and the key.
You see, Jesus is God the Son, and God the Father sent him down to die and come back to life (as a sacrifice), so that we might have the gift of forgiveness…a free pardon…a key to heaven. You can believe the key exists. But believing in the key without accepting it won’t open Heaven’s gates. You can believe that any old key will open the Gates. But any old key won’t. You can go on not believing in the gift. But when you get to the Gates, you will be shown away. But hopefully you have accepted the free gift of salvation through Christ Jesus.
“For the wages of sin is death. But the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
“For if you confess with your mouth that Christ Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

That’s the key. As for those who haven’t heard…are YOU going to tell them about this free gift?

You're Not Funny: A PSA

We all like to tell jokes, be funny, make someone laugh. But people (myself included, for sure) need to be careful when it comes to humor.

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) is a topic near to my heart. I was officially diagnosed with the disorder about ten years ago, but it really started when I was only eight (around twenty-two years ago.) It's been true mental anguish, dealing with OCD. So... 
OCD + humor = A real turn-off (to me, at least)
Sometimes, yes, laughing about a problem can make it seem lighter. But when an OCD joke comes out of the mouth of someone who doesn't suffer from the disorder, it just comes across as callused. I like to be taken seriously. I can laugh at my problems, but unless I invite you to laugh about them with me, I suggest holding off.
We don't get to choose what makes people laugh, but we do get to choose what jokes we tell.
Thanks for reading and for understanding,
Beth
___I'm far form perfect. I've slipped and made some hurtful remarks before.
What's your opinion? Am I being too PC? Do you relate? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

If It'd Been Left to Me: Literary Edition

WARNING: Potential spoilers for Jane Eyre, The Lord of the Rings, And Then There Were None (Ten Little Soldiers)
You have been warned!

Reader, I murdered him. The End - Jane Eyre
"Dear Frodo," wrote Gandalf, "if I should fall, ride the giant birds that rhyme with beagle, there's a good fellow." - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
"I insist that we each take every victim's pulse, Dr. Armstrong!" Emily said. "One cannot be too careful." - And Then There Were None